Rich in New England heritage, New Hampshire invites students to explore American history in ways that inspire curiosity and appreciation from many perspectives.
They can wander through historic buildings and examine vast art collections to deepen their understanding of religious movements, early American history and recent formative periods. Discover how faith influenced innovation, investigate WWII events through objects and artifacts, and become scientists in outdoor laboratories, where native wildlife, habitats and ecology converge in memorable ways. Other educational opportunities give students a look into the natural world and equip them with tools to continue investigating phenomena within the sciences.
“Indoor and outdoor experiences bring students up close with living creatures, including along the Live Animal Exhibit Trail, enveloping them in natural settings designed to encourage active learning.”
Find inspiration for your next student adventure in the annual Student Travel Planning Guide.
Canterbury Shaker Village (Canterbury)
Students can learn about a unique Christian religious sect at the Canterbury Shaker Village, a remarkably preserved Shaker community revealing more than 200 years of history. The Village preserves a campus of historic buildings and artifacts that act as a snapshot of the Shakers in New Hampshire. Two-hour field trips immerse groups in 200 years of Shaker life through collections of artifacts, manuscripts, and other cultural material, with hands-on, Shaker-inspired activities. The Village offers a living-history setting with lessons on the religious group’s life and its impact on the surrounding community, technology, and agricultural practices at the time. School programs welcome students of all ages, with the option to customize trips around class curriculum or interest.
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (Holderness)
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (Holderness)The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center offers numerous programs for school visits and field trips to strengthen interest in ecology, the natural world and environmental sciences. SLNSC programs align with the NGSS, and visits to the Center encourage students to ask questions about their experiences in the natural world and to find resources that deepen their understanding. Pre-K through grade 12 programs help connect classroom science with regional animals and ecological systems through hands-on discovery. Indoor and outdoor experiences bring students up close with living creatures, including along the Live Animal Exhibit Trail, enveloping them in natural settings designed to encourage active learning.
American Independence Center (Exeter)
American Independence Center (Exeter)Students who visit the American Independence Center, housed in the historic Ladd-Gilman House and Folsom Tavern, can explore the American Revolution through a New Hampshire lens. The museum’s collection holds thousands of Revolutionary-era artifacts, weapons, and everyday objects. One special exhibit showcases an original Dunlap Broadside of the Declaration of Independence. Tours and educational programs are split between the Ladd-Gilman House and Folson Tavern, and are designed for varied ages, from early elementary through secondary history and civics lessons. In the Ladd-Gilman House, students can learn about moments in early U.S. history through the perspective of New Hampshire stories. The Ladd-Gilman House also gives voice to those who are far enough off the page that they are often excluded from the larger history of that period. At Folson Tavern, the focus shifts to the role taverns played in Revolutionary history, giving broader context to an interesting piece of our past.
Wright Museum of World War II (Wolfeboro)
For those who want a strong link between a field trip and classroom topics, the Wright Museum of World War II might be the answer. K-12 student groups can discover extraordinary artifacts, including authentic war vehicles, photographs, engaging displays, and period objects that reflect both the battlefield and the American home front. Museum programming aligns with the state’s K-12 social studies framework and encourages students to engage with exhibits and collections through self-guided exploration, supported by docents and museum-provided activity sheets. Groups will encounter materials examining how wartime mobilization transformed the military, manufacturing and everyday life, helping them see the war beyond a series of battles and as an event that reshaped American families and communities.
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