SCHOOL KIDS IN THE PARK aims to encourage educators to utilize the Park as a “living classroom”, facilitates visits to the Park, and works to remove barriers that may limit students' participation by covering transportation costs.
These trips to the Park and others offer options for your class to explore and learn in the park include beach talks about sea turtles, visits to the Annaberg sugar plantation, bird walks, nature and plant walks, and hiking Leinster Bay freedom trail.
Discuss your classroom’s field trip options and schedule a Park or classroom visit with Friends SKIP Program Coordinator, Taylor White at twhite@friendsvinp.org or (203) 530-4392.
Network to Freedom Hike
Age Range: 4th-12th grade
Location: Leinster Bay trail
Length: 3 hours
Themes: History
Trip Description: Guided hike on Leinster Bay trail to the Leinster Bay Factory ruins. The hiking trail is about 2 miles total, 1 mile to the factory, and 1 mile back to the parking lot. The path along the Leinster Bay shoreline is slightly shaded, and has some areas with uneven terrain. Two years ago this area was accepted into the NPS Network to Freedom Program, which honors, preserves and promotes the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight.
Preparation: Closed toes shoes, 1 liter of water per student, lunch and snacks, sun protection, swimsuits
*Trip Tip* Combine this trip with a guided tour of Annaberg
Annaberg Tour
Age Range: Pre K- 12th grade
Location: Annaberg Ruins
Length: 1 hour
Themes: History, Culture
Trip Description: Join a ranger on a guided tour of Annaberg, as well as a cooking presentation from Ms. Olivia Christian in the cookhouse ruins, and follow the Annaberg Gardener, Mr. Charles Jackson, through the garden, to learn about native plants and their medicinal uses.
Preparation: Closed toed shoes, 1 liter of water per student, lunch and snacks, sun protection. Annaberg has many bees and wasps. Please inform your guide of any allergies, and have an epipen on hand if needed.
*Trip Tip* Combine this trip with the Leinster Bay, Network to Freedom hike (4th grade and up)
Cinnamon Bay Interpretive Loop Trail
Age Range: 4th-12th grade
Location: Cinnamon Bay
Length: 2 hours
Themes: History, Plants
Trip Description: Hike the Interpretive Loop trail (~.25 mile) through the shaded forest and the Cinnamon Bay Plantation ruins. Learn about the history of the area and the local vegetation.
Preparation: Closed toes shoes, 1 liter of water per student, lunch and snacks, sun protection
*Trip Tip* Combine this trip with a tour of the Friends of the Park Native Plant Nursery
Leinster Bay Seashore Walk
Age Range: Pre-K-12th grade
Location: Leinster Bay trail
Length: 2 hours
Themes: Marine Resources, Conservation
Trip Description: Join Retired Ranger Laurel on a seashore walk along the Leinster Bay trail, and into the mangrove flats. Learn about the marine and natural resources along the beach and shore, and their importance to our ecosystem.
Preparation: Waterproof shoes (crocs), bathing suits, 1 liter of water/ student, lunch/snacks, sun protection
Francis Bay Bird Walk
Age Range: Pre-K-12th grade
Location: Francis Bay trail/Boardwalk
Length: 1 hour
Themes: Birds, Natural Resources
Trip Description: Follow Retired Ranger Laurel around the salt pond at Francis Bay (~.25 mile) and learn about local birds and other plants and animals that live around the salt pond, mangroves and seashore.
Preparation: Closed toed shoes, 1 liter of water per student, lunch and snacks, sun protection
*Trip Tip* The best time to take this trip is Nov-Apr, when there are more birds here*
Sea Turtle Presentation
Age Range: Pre-K-12th grade
Location: Hawksnest
Length: 2 hours
Themes: Turtles, Marine Conservation
Trip Description: Join our Turtle Team for an interactive discussion about sea turtles, their environment and the issues facing their species today. For high students there is an optional snorkel aspect to the trip, where they have the opportunity to collect data on an invasive seagrass. The snorkel trip would take place at Maho Bay.
Preparation: 1 liter of water per student, lunch and snacks, sun protection, swimsuit
Volunteer with Friends Trail Maintenance Program
Age Range: 8th-12th grade for trails, All Ages for trash pickups
Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Locations: All over the park
Length: 4 hours
Themes: Volunteerism, History, Natural Resources
Trip Description: Join the Friends trails volunteers in the field, maintaining ruins, clearing trails, picking up trash and debris, or assisting in our native planting projects! Learn about history, the natural and cultural resources in the park, as well as the importance of volunteerism and conservation.
Preparation: Closed toed shoes (no crocs or slides), long pants, 2 liters of water per student, lunch and snacks, sun protection
*Trip Tip* Projects will vary based on what work needs to be done in the park at that given time. Trail volunteers will work alongside our visiting volunteers working on the trail crew. Trail work is hard work in the hot sun! Be prepared to use tools such as loppers to cut vegetation such as catch and keep and acacia. Be sure to pack plenty of water and wear the proper clothes.
Mangrove Presentation with Iowa State University Earth Program
Age Range: Classroom: 4th-12th, Field Presentation: 7th-12th grade
Locations: Classroom, Annaberg area, other locations in the park
Themes: Plants, Conservation
Trip Description: Join the ISU Earth Program Coordinators to learn about red, black and white mangroves, and their importance to the island and surrounding ecosystem. This presentation can be done in the classroom, or for middle and highschoolers, this trip can include a tour of the mangrove restoration planting area and a planting activity if resources are available.
Preparation: Closed toed shoes, 1 liter of water per student, lunch and snacks, sun protection
*Trip Tip* The field exercise may involve walking through the marsh area, wear shoes that can get dirty
Tour of the Friends Native Plant Nursery and Learning Lab
Age Range: Pre-K-12th grade
Locations: Cinnamon Bay
Themes: Plants, Conservation
Trip Description: Join a Friend for a tour of our native plant nursery located at Cinnamon Bay. The nursery grows native plants, non native fruiting plants, and rare and endangered plants. Learn about conservation issues affecting the island such as coastal erosion, and the restoration projects happening in the park to protect endangered species. A planting activity can be arranged if we have the resources at the time.
*Trip Tip* Combine this trip with a guided hike on the Cinnamon Bay Interpretive Loop trail
Discuss your classroom’s field trip options and schedule a Park or classroom visit with Friends SKIP Program Coordinator, Taylor White at twhite@friendsvinp.org or (203) 530-4392.