School Field Trips
Our staff can incorporate your class’s curriculum into our field trip lesson plan. Students will rotate through several sessions focused on the marsh ecosystem’s flora, fauna, and habitats. With a student-centered and inquiry-based approach, naturalists will guide students in applying all of their senses, making observations, fostering connections, and developing their curiosity. Special curriculum and workshops are available upon request with advance notice.
Curriculum Guide
- K-2 Grades:
- Plant and Animal Needs: Students will learn what animals and plants need to survive. After observing the local flora and fauna, students will have the opportunity to build their own habitat, go birding, and play interactive games.
- 3-5 Grades:
- Plants and Pollinators: Students will discover the importance of our local plants and pollinators through observation and engaging activities. Students will get the chance to become honey bees in a relay race, become chefs with pollinators’ help, and even learn the skills to survive as a plant.
- 6-8 Grades:
- Aquatic Ecosystems: Exploring the aquatic ecosystem of Big Marsh Park will allow students to better understand the entire food chain of the Chicago region. Students will learn the history of the Southeast side region, test the water quality of the park’s marsh, and collect and observe macroinvertebrate samples.
- Culture and History: Students can discover the cultural and land use history of Steelworkers Park through this guided program. Once home to US Steel, the site stands as a stark reminder of the impact the steel industry had on the Southeast Side. Opportunities to incorporate a rock climbing experience into the trip may be available upon request.
- 9-12 Grades:
- Wild Adaptations: Students will understand what it takes to have a balanced ecosystem and what can throw it off balance. The evolution of animals and their habitats will be discovered during their field trip to Big Marsh Park. Students will engage in various activities such as birding, Oh Deer, and plant identification.
- Culture and History: Students can discover the cultural and land use history of Steelworkers Park through this guided program. Once home to US Steel, the site stands as a stark reminder of the impact the steel industry had on the Southeast Side. Opportunities to incorporate a rock climbing experience into the trip may be available upon request.
- Special requests can be made, with advance notice. Some limitations may apply.
Reserve your Field Trip
- Reservations are required at least two weeks before the requested date. Reservations for school groups are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
- All groups must have at least one adult for every ten children.
- We will do our best to process your request within five business days. Once booked, you will receive a confirmation email and information packet.
- Please note that there are no indoor eating facilities or vending machines at any of our Southeast Side sites, except for Big Marsh Park.
Contact
To inquire about bringing your student(s) to Big Marsh Park for either a school field trip or summer camp, please use the following contact information.
Jamie Herget, Senior Program Specialist | jamie.herget@chicagoparkdistrict.com
Cost
- – Illinois and Northwest Indiana schools (K-12) and Illinois Head Start groups receive free student and chaperone field trip admission.
- – Adults, including chaperones and teachers, are allowed free admission based on a 1:5 (grades PK-3) and 1:10 (grades 4-12) adult-student ratio.
