Immerse your students in Iowa’s resplendent natural environments and historic sites for memorable outdoor lessons.
By Kaci Lollar
Field trips that blend nature and history are particularly enriching for children, offering benefits ranging from increased creativity to enhanced responsibility for environmental stewardship. Nature and historic sites in Iowa are notable for their educational value, facilitating hands-on learning and fostering curiosity.
Parts 1 and 2 of our Educational Adventures in Iowa series provide travel ideas to agricultural and traditional humanities sites, respectively. In Part 3, we explore student nature experiences in Iowa, drawing our itinerary to a close.
Iowa’s unique combination of natural beauty and historical significance makes it ideal for field trips. For more learning-focused activities in Iowa and beyond, download one of our free student travel guides at Student Travel Planning Guide – Student Travel Pro.
River Surfing in Iowa
STUDENT NATURE EXPERIENCES IN IOWA
Nature-oriented Iowa field trips for kids encourage physical activity and inspire connections to the environment. A list of several distinct student nature experiences in Iowa can be found below.
Looking for more learning-focused activities in Iowa? Discover agricultural and factory tours in Part 1 of our itinerary series.
Reiman Gardens (Ames)
The Reiman Gardens, named one of North America’s Top 10 Gardens Worth Travelling For, spans 17 acres and 26 distinct garden sites. With a butterfly wing featuring 800 insects and hardy, attractive roses specially bred by Iowa State University, the Reiman Gardens is a prime destination for student nature experiences in Iowa. A vast array of flora and fauna await students at the Reiman Gardens. Plant collections highlight the characteristics of pollutant- and disease-resistant plants, emphasizing the role of pollinators in the ecosystem.
One of many potential educational field trips in Iowa that seek to establish a solid foundation of horticultural knowledge, the Reiman Gardens are sure to impart an appreciation of plants’ aesthetic and practical qualities to students of all ages.
Find general admissions information, hours and directions at Admission and Hours – Reiman Gardens.
Mississippi River Cruises (LeClaire, Quad Cities, Dubuque)
Dive into the majesty of the Mississippi River with one of LeClaire, Iowa’s fantastic Riverboat Twilight excursions. A 1½-hour sightseeing cruise will leave students with a lasting impression of Iowa’s natural beauty. Similarly, Celebration Belle boat tours feature themed, narrated, or casual forays into Mississippi’s waterways. To make exploring the Mississippi River memorable among field trips to nature and historic sites in Iowa, supplement the cruises with a visit to Dubuque’s National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. At the aquarium, students can interact with various freshwater fish species, trace the science behind the water cycle, and more!
In conjunction with the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, Iowa’s boat tours will allow students to experience the might and wonder of America’s most important rivers.
Two-day overnight cruises hosted by the Riverboat Twilight include all accommodations, meals, shuttle service, entertainment, and tickets to the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. The typical sightseeing cruise may travel 5 to 7 miles up and down the river, while longer journeys carry passengers from LeClaire to Dubuque.
The Celebration Belle, a 750-passenger paddlewheel boat, offers various cruises on the Mississippi River. Embark on a narrated sightseeing tour or engage in a memorable themed lunch or dinner cruise, including Classic Oldies, Fall Foliage, and Captain’s Dinner and Dance voyages. The Celebration Belle conducts all-day cruises journeying between multiple states and routes, including Moline, IL, Dubuque, IA, and Prairie du Chien, WI. Adventures include meals, live entertainment, and stunning river landscape views.
Decorah Fish Hatchery (Decorah)
Nature and historic sites in Iowa are blended with the state’s agricultural roots, as evidenced by the Decorah Fish Hatchery. Home to 24 raceways teeming with vibrant rainbow trout, this hatchery plays a vital role in sustaining Iowa’s freshwater ecosystems. Each year, approximately 130,000 catchable-size trout are raised here, ensuring the continued health of local fisheries. Responsible for stocking 15 streams and five urban lakes statewide, the hatchery helps maintain fish populations and supports recreational fishing opportunities.
Students visiting the hatchery can explore interactive experiences that bring freshwater conservation to life. Learn about life cycles and habitats, feed rainbow trout in the raceways, and view the natural beauty of Siewers Springs.
The Decorah Fish Hatchery is open to the public year-round. Group tours and rate information can be found on their website: https://decorahfishhatchery.org/visit/
Note: you need a fishing license with a special permit specific to trout to fish at Siewers Spring.
Whitewater River Surfing – Northeast Iowa (Charles City, Manchester, Fayette Co., Cedar Falls)
Northeast Iowa has become a hotspot of whitewater river surfing in recent years, with several recreational areas springing up in Charles City, Manchester, Fayette County, and Cedar Falls. Physical involvement is a key component of nature-based educational field trips in Iowa, exemplified by this trying but exciting sport. Each location features man-made runways, controlled river waves, and kayaking, picnicking, and sightseeing events.
The Cedar River offers a consistently rewarding flat-water paddling experience, with stretches of awe-inspiring scenery, abundant wildlife, and excellent fishing opportunities. Whether gliding through calm waters or exploring dynamic sections, the river promises groups and unforgettable adventures on the water. As one of the largest rivers in the region, the Cedar maintains navigable water levels even during dry spells, making it a reliable choice for paddlers seeking year-round expeditions.
With countless limestone beds, turbulent rapids, and idyllic riverfronts, Iowa is an excellent locale for planners and advisors looking to wrap up their students’ field trips with an engaging activity.
A brief rundown of Iowa’s whitewater parks can be found at Iowa’s Whitewater Parks | The Otter Life | This is Iowa.
Don’t miss out on field trip ideas! Subscribe to Student Travel Pro and get free updates!
American Gothic House students group house
IOWA HISTORIC LANDMARKS FOR STUDENTS
History-based field trips benefit students, equipping growing minds with the context necessary to understand current events and encouraging critical engagement. Due to the state’s rich background, it is not difficult to find educational field trips in Iowa that are centered around history. Integrate Iowa history into your curriculum with the destinations below.
Need more history field trip ideas? Explore our History Field Trips section here.
Effigy Mounds National Monument (Harpers Ferry)
The Effigy Mounds National Monument is a sacred Native American site with a series of educational trails through preserved burial mounds. Ideal for lessons on Native American history, archaeology, and heritage, the Effigy Mounds National Monuments stands alone among nature and historic sites in Iowa for its valuable cultural lens.
Ranger-led tours and interactive exhibits make the Effigy Mounds National Monument a model example of learning-focused activities in Iowa.
No admission fee is required to visit the mounds, and the park is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Keokuk National Cemetery (Keokuk)
Keokuk National Cemetery is the resting home of thousands of Civil War soldiers and prisoners of war. Over 6,000 interments allow students to contemplate the divisive realities and lasting legacy of the Civil War. Nature and historic sites in Iowa are noteworthy for their dual aesthetic beauty and historical value, and the Keokuk National Cemetery is no exception. Featuring extensive flora and park areas, the graveyard juxtaposes visual sensation with visceral truth.
Like the famous Arlington National Cemetery, Keokuk contains a memorial in honor of 48 unknown soldiers. Though somber, the monument lends students an indispensable perspective that will compel them to think critically about warfare and human life.
The Keokuk National Cemetery is open to visitors daily, though office hours are only from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. A map of the cemetery can be found here.
American Gothic House (Eldon)
Students will likely recognize the American Gothic House & Center as the white home in the background of Grant Wood’s famous painting. Activities at the American Gothic House are far more engaging than the quiet nature that the area suggests. Instruction spans topics from Grant Wood’s biography to the elements found within the notorious painting. Students will be encouraged to examine parody and style through a critical lens. They will also evaluate the historical factors, such as agriculture during the Great Depression, that influenced the painting’s composition. Students can also sketch the house themselves before participating in exciting scavenger hunts.
The American Gothic House is more than a quaint facade with a gorgeously crafted front window; it is a conversation piece, a compelling artifact of architecture that functions as a dual emblem of American culture and history.
The interior of the American Gothic House is available for visitation by reservation only. Visit their website for more information: https://americangothichouse.org/. Group tours must consist of 10 or more individuals.
Union Pacific Railroad Museum (Council Bluffs)
Located along the Missouri River, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum embodies the railroads’ pivotal role during the Industrial Revolution and beyond. Exhibits are dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, the peculiar connection between national parks and train tracks, law enforcement along the railroads, and countless other intriguing topics.
Permanent galleries and five tours, complete with model trains and artifacts of early modernization, probe the storied legacy of the Transcontinental Railroad that linked the United States from the country’s east to west coasts.
The Union Pacific Railroad Museum offers free, self-guided general admission for visitors of all ages. Public events are also free.
The fun doesn’t stop at nature and historic sites in Iowa! Check out our STEM itineraries at STEM Archives – Student Travel Pro.
