Virtual Field Trips: 5 Resources to Help Your Family Connect with Nature & Explore the World

Spring is a beautiful time of year to discover the great outdoors. 

And while this year has you and your family a little closer to home that you’d like, you can still enjoy nature and explore the world around you. So when you’re feeling cooped-up and tuckered-out, transport your family somewhere you’ve always wanted to see. 

To help jumpstart your at-home adventures, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite remote learning resources we think you’ll love.

1. Virtual Field Trips

Ready! Set! Go! 

When everyone needs a change of scenery, check out Virtual Field Trips. From Washington, D.C. and the USA’s national parks to extreme habitats too risky to visit like rainforest jungles, coral reefs, and the Galapagos Islands, take your children anywhere in the world!

Soon to be your favorite online destination, Virtual Field Trips specializes in K-8 social studies, life science, geography, and ancient civilization curriculum. Perfect for visual learners, ESL students, and students with dyslexia, Virtual Field Trips allows you to choose a destination by grade, subject, or location. 

To support families and students during the COVID-19 outbreak, Virtual Field Trips is offering their online learning videos free of charge. Send them an email them at info@virtualfieldtrips.org with your name and email address (for logging in), and you’ll have access to all the videos and quizzes for sixty days (or more if needed). 

2. Virtual Farm Trips

Need to get out of the city? We got you. 

Virtual Farm Trips invites you and your children to get up close and personal with all the sights and sounds of real working farms. (Smells not included — you’re welcome). 

Offering a unique and one-of-a-kind experience by connecting students to real working farms from the comfort of their living rooms, Virtual Farm Trips aren’t dressed up to be something they’re not. They are unpolished, unscripted, and unfiltered glimpses into everyday farm life.

During the coronavirus outbreak, Virtual Farm Trips is providing you links to recordings of all of their past Virtual Farm Trips posted on their partners’ YouTube Channels. Visit an Ohio pig farm, a Pennsylvania beef farm, an Indiana dairy farm, and more! 

3. National Geographic Explorer Classroom Live Events

For years, National Geographic has been a trustworthy source of news and culture, capturing our amazing planet in magazines, films, and online.

Now, as communities around the world explore new ways of teaching and learning, you and your child can join live broadcasts through National Geographic Explorer Classroom

Every weekday at 2:00 p.m. EST, Explorer Classroom’s live video events connect your child with National Geographic Explorers across all seven continents to bring exploration to life. 

Events are free and open to the public. Register for a chance at one of six on-camera spots to ask Explorers your questions face to face!

4. Explore.org Live Cams

While you’re home adjusting to working remotely and handling kids out of school, Mother Nature marches on. Unfazed by the pandemic, she’s putting on her usual springtime show of new life, brilliant colors, and breathtaking sights.

It’s good to remember that life goes on — that’s why Explore.org has never been more needed and necessary. 

With 97 live stream webcams including a momma bald eagle and her eaglets, Tembe elephants in South Africa, and Magellanic penguins at the Aquarium of the Pacific spectacular views of nature’s finest is just a few clicks away. 

5. Exploring Nature

Looking for some high-quality printables to go along with all that science learning? 

Exploring Nature is a K-12 science education site with more than 6,000 illustrated printables, posters,  diagrams, and worksheets. covering life science, earth science, physical science, biology, anatomy, and ecology resources. 

Choose a spring-related topic or your child’s favorite animal and have all the content you need for days and days of engaging activity. The Exploring Nature store also sells picture books, posters, flip charts, science kits, and downloadable bundles perfect for bringing the outdoors indoors.

Mother Nature Knows Best

As you face the next several weeks, give a nod to Mother Nature. Despite today’s uncertainty, she reminds us that life will go on, the seasons will change, and there is still beauty and wonder to discover in the magnificent world around us.

For even more ideas and resources, check out ClassTag Resources — your one-stop site for free software, games, videos, lesson plans, and more.

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