The Exciting Return of the Field Trip

By Robin Denning

Do you remember the excitement of walking down the hall at school with all of your classmates toward the gym for an assembly? Or butterflies in your stomach knowing you're going to be getting on a bus to go on a field trip?

Granted, sometimes the principal would drone on about not playing rough and tumble with friends in the playground, and occasionally, you'd end up in the same museum you'd been to a couple of times. But looking back, these were rich experiences that opened eyes, helped you form new understanding, sparked new ideas, and left lasting memories.

Field trips are vital student experiences that provides real world experience and teachers and students alike are jumping up and down with joy to see assemblies and field trips return following the relaxing of state covid-19 regulations. And this year, many students who have known nothing but distance learning will get to experience field trips for the first time.

Assembly at Chenowith, circa 2018

Teacher and Education Association President Jodi Ketchum delivered an emotional account of how the return of assemblies and field trips is affecting students in her 2nd-grade class at the North Wasco County District 21 School Board meeting last night October, 27th, 2022.

During the presentation Ketchum shared a heartwarming interaction she had with a child who has never been on a field trip before.

"He came to me with his eighty-one cents and said, "I think I found a dollar."

"That's going to go a long way,” replied Ketchum.

Then he said, "you said the money will go towards field trips and assemblies. I've never been on a field trip, and I don't know what an assembly is. But I'm so excited for these, will a dollar buy us an assembly?"

"So, there you have it" Ketchum continued, "We're fighting the good fight for these kids, and we're very excited post-pandemic, that we actually get to have field trips and assemblies. I just want to say I'm grateful for that, all of us teachers are. Thank you for enduring my emotional moment about what our kiddos are excited to see."

Although these activities might seem small and mundane to some, these opportunities for learning and bonding with classmates add huge value to the educational experience for students. And they've been sorely missed during the pandemic.

See Ketchum's emotional presentation to the board here:.

Do you want to help local students learn?

You get to hit play on that power ballad, put on your superhero cape and make a massive difference in young people's lives by volunteering at your local school district right now.

Currently, there's a real need for volunteers to help with math in The High School, and a volunteer coordinater for Dry Hollow Elementary School and so much more.

To sign up to volunteering at North Wasco School District 21, click here.

A few more good reasons to volunteer, circa 2019.