Making the school curriculum come alive
The Discovery Zone now offers guided and self-guided field trips that connect the abundant resources found at the Discovery Zone to school curricula, fulfilling Connecticut State standards for science at the primary and secondary levels, and other relevant subjects such as history and art.
I. Guided Programs for schools led by CT Audubon:
The Discovery Zone has partnered with The Connecticut Audubon, the largest provider of outdoor education programs to school districts across the state. Through this partnership, we now offer guided school field trips to Monroe and other regional school districts grades 1-4 including:
1st Grade - Life Cycles
2nd Grade - Soils
3rd Grade - Rocks and Minerals
4th Grade - Ecosystems
Other applicable school field trips with direct links to science curriculum include:
School Districts interested in utilizing the unique resources of the Discovery Zone combined with the expertise of trained Connecticut Audubon staff should contact us at firstname.lastname@example.org. Programs can be specifically tailored to fit your school's needs and an advance tour of the site can be arranged by appointment.
Cost for a guided field trip is $6 per student for a 60-minute program, $8 per student for a 90-minute program and $10 per student for a two hour program.
II. Self-Guided Field Trips supplied with teaching guides, maps and Scavenger Hunt scorecards/pencils:
Take your classes on a self-guided field trip to one of the state’s most significant interpretive trail systems with over 27 learning stations spanning four miles of trails. Created by Hank Gruner, Vice President of Programs for the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford, with assistance from Connecticut State Archeologist Nick Bellantoni.
To ensure park availability and a complete set of supplies for all participants, self-guided field trips must be scheduled in advance by contacting us at email@example.com
Cost for a self-guided field trip is $3 per student
III. Self-Guided Field Trips without supplies:
Based on availability, the Discovery Zone can be reserved for large groups and other organizations that wish to use our unique facility for educational purposes.
Cost is $50 for a 2-hour program. Reservations are required.
“The field trip was wonderful! The children enjoyed it and learned so much. It fit in perfectly with our science unit on life cycles.”
1st Grade Teacher,
“We thought that the trip went very well today! Olivia was very informative and enthusiastic and was able to capture my students' attention the entire time. I also thought that the amount of time we spent there was just enough. I was very pleased!”
1st Grade Teacher,
Fawn Hollow Elementary,
“The trip was awesome. Kids had a blast, definitely doing it again next year!”
3rd Grade Teacher,
Stadley Rough Elementary,
“...Everyone had a great time! Students were commenting on this being the best field trip ever! Students were saying: 'This is the best field trip ever! No one is telling us to be quiet like in the museum last year... Can we come back again?'"
Third Grade Teacher,
Meeting House Hill School,
New Fairfield, CT