School is back in session, and that means field trip season at Bernheim! Join us this school year to experience all the wonder Bernheim has to offer. Our award-winning Education Team offers a variety of field trips for grades K through 12 and fulfills our mission of connecting people with nature.
Over 8,000 students explore and discover the natural world through field trips to Bernheim Forest and Arboretum each school year. Lesson plans incorporate science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) from our nature-based educators.
12 Trip Options Available
Teachers can “choose their own adventure” from the twelve different field trips Bernheim offers. Our most popular lessons are the Life and Land of Rock Run and Exploring the Bernheim Ecosystem. Download the Guided Field Trip Planner to see additional trip options.
“During Exploring the Bernheim Ecosystems, all ages will enjoy three habitats, forest, pond, and prairie,” explained Dan Pascucci, Family and Youth Program Manager at Bernheim. “And, we’ll discover the different organisms that call these habitats home.”
After your guided field trip, students and teachers can explore on their own. Check out Playcosystem, see the Forest Giants, and more!
Explore at Your Own Pace with Self-guided Trips
Self-guided field trips are also an option for teachers who want to explore at their own pace, and can include Playcosystem, hiking Rock Run, visiting the Forest Giants, exploring the Edible Garden, or learning about ecosystems.
Scheduling Your Field Trip
Guided field trips are $12 per student, and we do have scholarships available for schools that qualify. Self-guided field trips are $100 per bus. For the 2025-2026 school year, field trips are available August 18 – December 19, 2025, and March 2 – May 22, 2026. Bernheim has two time slots for your school group: 10 – 11:30 a.m. or 12:15 – 1:45 p.m.
Reservations must be made at least two weeks prior to your field trip date. The fall calendar is quickly filling so be sure to book your field trip today! Fill out a field trip form. For more information, visit the field trip planning information page.
Homeschool Hikes are also offered throughout the year for grades K-5. Be sure to check our events calendar for those dates.
