MetroWest Boston offers unique student programs just 30 minutes from the big city at a fraction of the cost
Your next STEM- or history-focused field trip should include these hidden gems in MetroWest Boston, a region just 30-60 minutes from downtown Boston that offers easy access to unique, experiential learning at economical rates.
STEM:
Explore these hands-on learning opportunities that inspire curiosity, innovation, and critical thinking:
Christa McAuliffe Center (Framingham, MA)
This interactive hub immerses students in the wonders of space, astronomy, and environmental science. With a cutting-edge planetarium and collaborative Challenger simulation lab, visitors can take on mission challenges that inspire critical thinking and teamwork.
New England Sci-Tech (Natick, MA)
This dynamic center offers interactive workshops in robotics, coding, electronics, astronomy, and more, empowering students to build, experiment and innovate while expanding their knowledge of physics, engineering, math, and computer science.
Southwick’s Zoo (Mendon, MA)
From keeper talks to animal encounters to hands-on activities, students explore animal conservation, ecosystems and zookeeping through the EARTH Discovery Center educational programs at the largest zoo in New England.
Boston Honey Company (Holliston, MA)
This educational hotspot provides an opportunity to explore environmental science through the lens of beekeeping. Students discover the vital role bees play in our ecosystem while learning about sustainable practices and the fascinating world of pollinators.
Native Plant Trust’s Garden in the Woods (Framingham, MA)
The Garden’s school programs promote awareness, understanding and appreciation of the botanical and natural world through experiential and inquiry-based learning. Their interactive program on Plant Survival and Adaptation is taught by experienced Teacher Naturalists designed to align with curriculum standards and is accompanied by pre-and post-classroom activities. For 2025, this program is for third graders only, with additional grades added in future years.
Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s Garden at Elm Bank (Wellesley, MA)
All programs focus on plants and horticulture as a way to learn about the world around us. Hands-on lessons on Plant Parts and Functions, Weather and Climate, Soil Ecosystems and Decomposition, Pollination, and Botanical Art fully explore ideas in a fun way. Girl Scout troops can also earn badges during a 90-minute session on gardening, bugs, trail hikes, ecosystems, and native plants and animals.
Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary (Natick, MA)
With wetlands, meadows and woodlands, Broadmoor is a 624-acre living classroom for students to engage with ecology, conservation and environmental science. Hands-on group programs and guided field studies offer education about wildlife habitats, climate change and water conservation while hiking the sanctuary’s scenic trails.
For more field trip ideas and opportunities, keep reading from our 2025 Northeast Field Trip Guide.
HISTORY:
Allow students to get up close and personal with our history, helping them draw meaningful connections to their lives today at:
Old Sturbridge Village (Sturbridge, MA)
The largest living history museum in New England, Old Sturbridge Village brings history to life through costumed historians, restored buildings, a working farm and mills, vast collections, and incredible stories from life in the early 19th century. They also offer seasonal hands-on workshops where students try authentic 19th-century activities. From cooking over a hearth to weaving on a loom to writing with quill pens, these tactile experiences forge a tangible connection between past and present.
American Heritage Museum (Hudson, MA)
The Museum’s extraordinary collection of antique tanks, planes and automobiles are laid out in immersive exhibits that bring both U.S. and world history to life through old news reels, video interviews, artifacts, and more. Students explore everything from the rise of fascism in Europe and Asia to the treatment of POWs in the Vietnam War to the heroic efforts of many during 911, and much more. American Heritage Museum offers limitless connections to the history lessons you teach in your classes!
Framingham History Center (Framingham, MA)
The Center provides exhibition group tours, guided walking tours and behind-the-scenes collections access for students to explore documents and artifacts of enormous importance in American history. Artifacts include John Hancock’s signature, two of only four suffragette pins in existence, tune books from the American Revolution, Civil War-era slavery documents, and more.
Longfellow’s Wayside Inn (Sudbury, MA)
Groups can take self-guided tours of the grounds, historic buildings and museum exhibits highlighting over three centuries of history at the oldest inn in America. With prior arrangements, they can also examine pieces from the inn’s archives and receive a history talk from the innkeeper over lunch in the preserved dining room.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau for assistance in planning your next student itinerary, including STEM, history, arts & culture, outdoor rec, and just plain fun! www.metrowestvisitors.org
Submit the Form Below for More Info from MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau
- Contact – Stacey David
- Phone – (508) 434-4433
- Email – sdavid@metrowestvisitors.org
- Website – https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/
