Science Field Trip Ideas

Science Field Trip Ideas for Saving Money

Is it worth the cost? That depends. When I did the math for a few of the centres, I found it usually costs a little less than going to the centre twice. So if you're only planning one science field trip a year, it may not be worth it. (Please check out the centre you want to be a member of and do your own math.)

But remember you're not just a member of the science centre you joined - you can go country-wide and world-wide. Wouldn't it be great to be able to go on vacation and stop in at the local science centre, planetarium or museum and have your family admitted for free?

Of course, not every centre is included in the reciprocal agreement. Some have free parking, movies, free guest passes, discounts, or other items included; however, notice that not every centre has the same benefits for members, so check their websites directly to see what's included before you show up.

As home schoolers, wouldn't it be nice to have one more classroom? If you're going on a trip, why not take advantage of your membership and stop along the way to stretch your legs and have a change of pace? Or if your membership includes free guest passes, maybe you might like to take some of your visitors with you on your science field trip (especially the poor unfortunates that go to traditional schools that don't get to go on nearly as many field trips as us homeschoolers.)

So check out the details:

1) Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC) - List of Reciprocal Members to see the list of science centres, planetaria, and museums in Canada that are included in your membership.

Please note that just because a centre is included in this reciprocal Canadian Association (CASC) does not mean it is also included in the worldwide Association of Science Technology Centres (ASTC); however, some are. So if you're deciding which centre to be a member of, you might want to consider one that has a reciprocal agreement in the ASTC.

2) Association of Science Technology Centres (ASTC) - Passport Programs - Worldwide to check out countries like the United States of America (252 centres), Canada (12 centres), United Kingdom (1 centre) and Australia (3 centres), that have reciprocal memberships for science centres, planetaria and museums.

3) Of course, check the membership links on the website of the specific science centre you'd like to be a member of to be sure of costs and membership benefits. Double check whether they are included in the Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC) and/or the Association of Science - Technololgy Centres (ASTC).

When you're searching for science or museum field trip ideas on this site, look for references as to whether they are CASC or ASTC reciprocal members.

But remember, this is just a potential money saving tip I'm giving you. I presume that in the future for one reason or another, a centre may no longer be participating in the reciprocal agreement and new ones may be added, and my site won't be automatically updated with the revision. So please remember I told you to double check for yourself and don't get upset with me if there's a change that affects you personally. But please do share your comments with me about your experiences at any specific centre, including any membership challenges or benefits, so we can all learn from your experience.

Canada

United States of America (USA)