West Virginia University Jackson’s Mill offers engaging school field trip opportunities emphasizing science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM), outdoor education and history education through hands-on learning.
Full day and overnight field trips are offered to school groups grades K-12 throughout the academic year. Programming is grade appropriate and instruction supports the West Virginia Department of Education Content Standards. When scheduling a field trip, teachers can request which program areas they want to personalize the experience. A variety of activities are offered, including engineering design, physical science, a low ropes course, outdoor cooking, grist milling, historic games and more.
“Attending our field trips events provides a unique learning experience for students, because they can participate in experiential education, which provides a new perspective on the curriculum that students are learning in the classroom,” Jeff Schmoll, program coordinator, said.
Jackson’s Mill is steeped in history, dating back to the mid-1800s. During field trips, students can participate in a variety of demonstrations that transport you back in time, including a gristmill demonstration, candle dipping, blacksmithing, paper marbling, a tour of the historic area and other heritage arts activities, explained Joe Obidzinski, program coordinator.
Schools can face challenges in providing hands-on learning opportunities due to budget constraints, limited access to specialized equipment and a limited amount of time educators have to teach these disciplines.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, the WVU Jackson’s Mill programming team presented 157 hours of programming and welcomed 907 students grades K-12 to WVU Jackson’s Mill through field trips alone.
One teacher explained that the students enjoyed their entire day, the WVU Jackson’s Mill staff made the students feel welcomed, it was a stress-free day and a safe place for the students. Another teacher shared that their class will continue to participate in this field trip as long as it is available.
“WVU Jackson’s Mill is in the northcentral part of the state and is only a short drive from many of our West Virginia schools,” Emma Gardner, teaching assistant professor, said. “Our program educators make a concentrated effort to tie facilitated workshop activities to meet West Virginia Educational Standards. This means that the field trip is not a waste of time, but instead a day where students can learn valuable lessons that tie into what they are learning in school.”
Participants can register for a field trip by filling out this form or by calling 304-269-5100. Any teacher or group interested in scheduling a field trip should have several dates in mind for scheduling purposes. For more information about specific programming activities and programming by grade, visit the WVU Jackson’s Mill youth education webpage.
The registration cost is $10 per student for the programming and $10 per person for optional meals. If you have any questions, contact WVU Jackson’s Mill at 304-269-5100 or email jacksons.mill@mail.wvu.edu.
If you want to learn more about WVU Extension, visit extension.wvu.edu or follow @WVUExtension on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.
-WVU-
sd/09/29/24
CONTACT: Sophia Darmelio
Marketing Strategist
WVU Division for Land-Grant Engagement
304-293-9490; sophia.darmelio@mail.wvu.edu