Field trips are one of the best ways for students to experience scientific inquiry.  An abundance of natural resources lie with a few minutes of Salt Lake City and provide ample opportunity for outdoor learning experiences.  Before planning a WEST-funded field trip, the following guidelines should be consulted:

1.  The focus of WEST field trips should be on the scientific process and the interactions of water, the environment, and society.

2.  Fellows should be directly involved with the planning and implementation of the field trip.  Trips that do not directly utilize a WEST fellow will not be funded by WEST.

3.  Put the FIELD into field trip.  Plan trips that engage students in observing their natural environment. 

4.  An ideal WEST field trip:
a.  begins with in-class lessons and experiments to prepare students for what they will experience in the field.
b.  involves students in planning the goals, objective and logistics of the trip.
c.  engages students in observation, sampling and data collection while on the trip.
d.  is followed up by in-class analysis and discussion.

Note:  Field trips are a great opportunity to generate science fair projects!

5.  Buses are usually the biggest field trip expense.  Check with the Salt Lake City school district first about buses, and get quotes from bus companies (such as Le Bus) to compare pricing.  If your field trip necessitates driving up a steep canyon, it’s best to go with a professional bus company.
 
6.  Make sure to fill out an Expense Request Form to have field trip expenses approved by Holly in advance.

7.  Assign someone to take pictures during your field trip, WEST has a digital camera available for check out.  Following your trip, you will be responsible for sorting through the pictures and writing appropriate captions for the “good” ones.  You can email captions to Holly with picture numbers/names indicated.  Occasionally, high resolution pictures will be needed for print (i.e. not email-able) so please indicate original picture number on camera and do NOT delete originals on camera card.