Creole Culture, Acadian History & Exotic Wildlife
The Bayou State is an ideal field trip destination because it’s packed with fascinating educational opportunities, hands-on and real-world experiences, and plenty of memorable learning. From mesmerizing art displays and Creole history to an interactive safari and a living history campus, educational opportunities are plentiful in Louisiana.
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“Engage in interactive guided tours that unravel over 5,000 years of history through art.”
New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) (New Orleans)
At the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), students can engage in interactive guided tours that unravel over 5,000 years of history through art. This exceptional center offers in-depth examinations of both permanent collections and special exhibits, with educational conversations between docents and groups. The museum’s highlights include a comprehensive collection of European paintings, decorative creations, modern art, and African artwork. Venture outdoors to the Besthoff Sculpture Garden and experience art among nature with towering works of art, life-like statues and incredible displays of creativity. From photography, early European paintings and West African culture to mixed media showcases, NOMA is a fantastic field trip destination for groups studying numerous curricula.
Global Wildlife Center (Folsom)
Students will be thrilled by the interactive safari excursion at the Global Wildlife Center in Folsom. The facility proudly offers a spacious home for over 2,000 exotic, endangered and threatened animals from around the world. Group tours take students through fields where they can feed friendly, free-roaming animals from a canopy-covered wagon for lasting memories. Get up close to giraffes, camels, zebras, bison, and more, for a wild educational adventure. Visiting groups will learn about wildlife conservation through hands-on opportunities, including touching and feeding for sensory experiences. The 1.25-hour wagon ride meanders through 900 acres of scenic landscapes while guides educate riders on topics including animal behavior and anatomy, conservation, and environmental impacts.
Magnolia Mound Plantation (Baton Rouge)
Step into the past at Magnolia Mound Plantation, an authentic Creole structure-turned-museum and historic site providing hands-on experiences for student groups. The property comprises multiple original structures, including a Quarters cabin (c. 1830) where slaves lived, the Overseer’s House (c. 1871), and a rare three-seat Privy from the mid-19th century that was moved from another plantation and fully restored. Educational programs offer students a tour of the Historic House and Open-Hearth Kitchen with history-based activities like weaving, colonial games and period-appropriate toys.
Vermilionville (Lafayette)
At Vermilionville, interactive guided and self-guided tours take students through reconstructions of the lives of Native Americans, Acadians, Creoles, and people of African descent in the Attakapas region through the 1800s. Field trip packages include several areas of study for numerous grade levels. Students can learn about local ecology in a Bayou Adventure field trip or a Living History option for fascinating history lessons through historic interpretations and engaging exhibits. Environmental Science field trips are available for those learning about water, local ecosystems and conservation. Other field trip packages include Music & Dance and Culinary options. Educational and fun add-ons include dance lessons, boat tours, cooking demonstrations, and more. Bonus: Vermilionville has a group-friendly, full-service restaurant that welcomes student groups for lunch.
Louisiana Art & Science Museum (Baton Rouge)
Originally built as a railway station in the heart of downtown Baton Rouge in 1925, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum is a historically rich location that provides guests with opportunities to explore space through the Solar System Gallery and Universe Gallery exhibits. In addition, students can witness the cosmos with a mesmerizing show at the 60-foot domed Irene W. Pennington Planetarium.
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