Looking for a fun and engaging learning experience for your school classroom or community group? From night hikes to live animal programs and farm tours to agricultural heritage programs, the Preservation Parks Outdoor Connections Department offers field trip programs covering a variety of natural and cultural history topics. Most are free for Delaware County groups and organizations only, and a great way to introduce your group to our county’s cultural and natural heritage. Scout groups can check out our Scout Badge Days, offered throughout the year.
Field trips are limited to 75 participants per field trip per day. If your group is larger than 75, you must schedule two dates.
For school field trips to Deer Haven Park, groups choose three program topics and follow a rotating schedule. Scheduled on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday only. Most popular field trip programs at Deer Haven are Habitat Hike, Wetland Exploration, Fossils, Animal Adaptation, and Reptiles and Amphibians.
Field trips to Gallant Farm are limited to Tuesday and Wednesday only. Groups are broken down into smaller groups and rotate through stations like a farmhouse tour, barn, sheep and wool, chickens and corn, and crops and the garden.
Field trips to other Preservation Parks locations upon request.
To schedule a field trip, please submit a Program Request Form.
Outreach Programs Available
See below for a general list of field trip programs offered by Preservation Parks. If there is a topic that you would like to cover that is not listed below, please do not hesitate to ask. We are flexible and will work with you to develop a program that will meet your needs to the best of our ability and comply with State of Ohio Academic Content Standards. Field trips can take place at any one of the parks managed by Preservation Parks.
Community groups that see a program in our regular public program schedule and would like to attend should contact us in advance to schedule a special program on that topic specifically for your group.
Program Topics:
- Trees/Plants
- Insects/Arachnids
- Reptiles
- Amphibians
- Birds
- Raptors/Aviary/Pellet Dissection
- Mammals
- Monarchs
- Animals of Ohio
- Animal Adaptations
- Soils/Decomposition
- Fossils
- Sensory Awareness
- Orienteering
- Geocaching
- Archery
- Fishing
- Wilderness Survival Basics
- Nocturnal Animals Night Hike
- Forest Exploration
- Stream Exploration – Available April through October
- Wetland Exploration – Available April through October
- Habitat Exploration Hike
- Ohio and Delaware County geology
- Depression Era (1930s) Farm Life Programs (Gallant Farm only)
- General Program on Preservation Parks
