Snowshoe treks, planetarium shows and cozy hands-on workshops for engaging cold-weather field trips across the Northeast
The colder months can easily feel like a lull in your school year. Snow days, sick days, and winter break on the horizon can begin to move slowly. But winter doesn’t have to be a lackluster trudge through indoor classroom learning. Make the most of the snowy months with these cold-weather field trips to enhance learning in dynamic Northeast destinations.
Why Embrace Winter Instead of Hibernating?
Keeping your students active and your lessons engaging during the winter might sound like a challenging task, but the conditions are in your favor. Attraction tickets tend to be cheaper during the colder seasons, and fewer visitors mean your students get more time and space to learn. Winter also brings unique STEM activities to educate your students about distinctive aspects of our environment during cold seasons.
Outdoor Adventures That Warm Kids Up
SnowSchool programs (Northeast locations)
Get your class outside at one of Winter Wildlands Alliance SnowSchool programs. With sites across the country—from California to Maine—SnowSchool is the perfect way to introduce your students to winter STEM lessons, including the formation of snow and outdoor recreation. Throw on a pair of snowshoes and get your class out into the winter ecosystem. Explore the adaptations of the area’s local wildlife and landscapes. The program is designed for students of all ages, allowing everyone to enjoy a snowshoeing field trip. Winter Wildlands Alliance’s mission is to connect students with the outdoors and make emotional connections to winter. Locations in the Northeast include Maine (Machias), New Hampshire (Hollis, Plymouth, and Concord) and Vermont (Williston and Montpelier).
Northfield Mountain (Massachusetts)
You and your students can enjoy breathtaking views of a New England winter at Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center. The center has 26 miles of trails that you can embark on from May to November. Enjoy activities like a Geology Cruise with Geologist Richard Little, where your students can better understand the rocks that make up the Connecticut River. Take part in a Northfield Mountain Orienteering Day for students ages 11 and up, where guides will challenge you to compete in a navigation competition. The Center also has a pavilion and auditorium that can be rented for large groups, if needed.
Mass Audubon’s Wachusett Meadow (Massachusetts)
With a variety of STEM activities for you to choose from, Wachusett Meadow is the perfect place to take your students for an immersive winter field trip. K-2 students can explore animal and plant adaptations during the colder months, while those in grades 3-5 can learn about foodwebs and energy flow. High school students can participate in programs focused on the interactions between humans and their ecosystems. Wachusett Meadow’s field trips are highly customizable and can take place both inside and outside of the classroom. Educational programs encourage hands-on discovery and interactive learning for an enriching experience.
DCR Universal Access events (Massachusetts state parks)
Accessibility is the top priority for DCR Universal Access, which offers adaptive forms of winter sports, such as ice skating and sledding, for people of all abilities. Participating in their programs could mean hiking with your students on one of the many trails or watching them play a game of gentle ice hockey. The cost varies by program, and specific slots are available for certain activities. Make sure to stay up to date with their website to plan trips accordingly.
Pro-tip: Make sure your students are bundled up! Many field trip sites offer equipment and gear needed for outdoor activities, especially those that offer snowshoeing, but students are responsible for their winter wear!
Cozy Indoor STEM Escapes
Museum of Science, Boston (Massachusetts)
Learn about science in an engaging (and warm) way at the Museum of Science, Boston, a great indoor option for your winter field trip. Students can enjoy a variety of activities and live presentations, including a Robot Roundup and Science Storytime. Make sure to book a planetarium show with your admission to the Exhibit Hall to get a discount price. Your students can enjoy movies that explore our solar system and galaxy.
Planetaria circuit (Northeast locations)
Museums across the Northeast have renowned planetariums for an out-of-this-world field trip. For example, the Longo Planetarium in Randolph, New Jersey, can accommodate up to 74 people, allowing you to select a show based on grade level and content, such as the invention of the telescope and the study of dark matter in our universe. A planetarium field trip is the perfect way to teach your students about astrology while staying warm during the winter and creating a memorable learning experience.
Consider other Northeast planetariums:
- Hayden Planetarium – American Museum of Natural History (New York City, NY)
- Charles Hayden Planetarium – Museum of Science, Boston (Boston, MA)
- Fels Planetarium – The Franklin Institute (Philadelphia, PA)
- McAuliffe – Shepard Discovery Center Planetarium (Concord, NH)
- New Jersey State Museum Planetarium (Trenton, NJ)
Liberty Science Center (New Jersey)
The Liberty Science Center is an accessible education facility in New Jersey that offers full-day itineraries for school groups, including interactive presentations, Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium shows and laboratory workshops. Their education team can help lighten your load by creating a plan to ensure your winterfield trip aligns with STEM standards. They also offer a STEM Education Planning Guide that you can look at before booking your visit. The museum accommodates wheelchair users and those with diverse sensory needs, ensuring that the experience is enjoyable for everyone.
Historic Villages & Maker Workshops (Northeast locations)
Exploring a historic village is a great way to meet social studies standards in a fun and engaging way during the colder months. Take your students to Old Sturbridge Village, for example, and immerse them in the lives of New Englanders in 1830. Here, they can participate in hands-on crafts and activities reminiscent of the time and engage with live indoor demonstrations.
Discover more living history and maker experiences:
- Plimoth Patuxet Museums (Plymouth, MA)–Winter Workshops provide student groups with indoor, hands-on activities
- New York Hall of Science (New York City, NY)–Indoor makerspaces, workshops and interactive labs
- Connecticut Science Center (Hartford, CT)–Indoor activity stations for hands-on learning, assembly shows and educational programs
Rapid-Fire Planning Checklist
- Before embarking on your winter adventure, make sure you’ve considered transportation, including parking, as well as any rental gear needed for outdoor activities. Research possible lunch spots and verify which sites offer food options.
- Get all necessary paperwork for students, ensuring their safety and protocol in case of an emergency during your trip.
- Remind your students about wearing layers and avoiding cotton clothes. It’s essential to stay warm during winter field trips, especially when engaging in outdoor activities like snowshoeing.
FAQs from Teachers
Keep these questions in mind when looking into possible winter field trip sites:
- What temperatures cancel snow programs?
- Do we need our own snowshoes and other outdoor equipment?
- Are planetariums ADA accessible?
- Are there any winter scholarship funds available?
Cozy Up to Education
All that’s left to do is start imagining a dynamic winter field trip with your students and feel good about introducing your class to wintertime activities, both indoors and outside. From colonial-era workshops in living history villages to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing along the hills of the Northeast, there are plenty of boredom-busting options for field trips during the chilly season.
By Juiliana DeFillipo
