California
Field Trips
Annotated Lists
Bay Area Experiences
A database of fun and unusual things to do and see in the San
Francisco Bay Area. Some are quite unusual, such as where you
can go to learn to blow glass.
Bay Area
Family Travel
We will focus on a specific Bay Area locale for our monthly cover
story. And in the How-to with Kids department, writers
provide the essentials on how to ski with kids, camp with kids,
visit museums with kids...you get the idea.
Bay Area
Homeschool Field Trips
This Yahoo group is for Homeschooling families in the SF- San
Jose Bay Area who enjoy field trips. At least 2 field trips a
month; some are free, some having fees. Everyone is welcome to
post field trips that they are organizing.
Bay Area Kid Fun
Find fun things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area and also
get discount
coupons for doing them!
BestHomeschooling.org's
Guide to California Field Trip Resources
This directory provides information about finding and planning
an endless array of field trip opportunities throughout the state.
Formerly on the HSC site. Researched by Lillian Jones.
CaliforniaHS-Calendar
An announcement-only email list concerning field trips and events
of interest to California Homeschoolers.
Central Coast Homeschoolers Field Trips
Each Monday from 12:00 - 2:30 Homeschoolers of the Central Coast hosts field trips. The field trips are open to anyone who would like to attend. They are geared to the age group 4 - 11 but children of other ages are welcome.
Field Trip
Directory
Homefires ~ The Journal of Homeschooling, famous in Northern
California for its field trip announcements, has put up a dozen
lists of its readers' favorite places to take kids.
Homefires
Calendar
Get the latest updates on Field Trips, Co-op Classes, Museum
Days, Park Days, Educational Events, etc., for homeschoolers
in California and beyond -- with special focus on the San Francisco
Bay Area.
The
Letter Home
Bay Shore Ed has a monthly newsletter of places to go and things
to do in Southern California.
OC
Homeschool Events
This is an announcements only (low volume) for events and activities
that may be of interest to homeschooling families in and around
the Orange County, California area.
Out
And About: Reviews of Local Attractions
California Attractions. Julie Gentry writes about the favorite
stops of her traveling homeschool family.
San Diego Indoor Activities for Kids
Due to the wildfires in San Diego many people have been told to stay inside to avoid the hazardous outdoor conditions. Air quality remains a concern. Children and the elderly are more susceptible to smoke. If it¬s smoky outside, it¬s probably not a good time to go jogging. And it¬s probably a good time for your children to remain indoors.
Aquariums & Ocean Life
Birch Aquarium
at Scripps
We provide ocean science education through creative exhibits,
programs, and activities designed to help people use critical
thinking, and to make science relevant to their daily lives.
2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, (619) 534-FISH
Monterey Bay Aquarium
All you need to know to plan your aquarium visit, including hours,
prices, maps, online tickets and more. 886 Cannery Row, Monterey,
(408) 648-4800
Area Guides
Enter
San Diego
Beaches, Sea World, Zoos, LegoLand, and more from this local
site. Oh, don't forget that Mexico is about 15 minutes from downtown,
so they include it, too.
San
Diego - GoCityKids
Fun places to go and interesting things to do with kids in San
Diego.
Art
Bowers Museum of Cultural
Art
We offer Docent led tours of our Museum galleries and the facilities
at our Kidseum provide Art Classes and a Lunch Area. We have
a special promotion for groups booking before June 30th: Receive
a complimentary Curriculum Guide. 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana,
CA. 92706, (714) 567-3679.
Paramount
Theatre Guided Tours
Art Deco style. My father was the general contractor on the remodeling
of this center for performing arts in Oakland. Public tours of
the Paramount Theatre are given on the first and third Saturdays
of each month, excluding holidays. Children must be at least
10 years old and adult chaperones are required. (510) 893-2300
ext. 801.
Astronomy
Chabot Space &
Science Center
The universe is yours to experience! Set amid 13 trail-laced
acres of East Bay parkland, with glorious views of San Francisco
Bay and the Oakland foothills, Chabot is a hands-on celebration
of sights, sounds, and sensations.10000 Skyline Blvd. Oakland,
CA 94619, 510-336-7300.
Fremont Peak Observatory
Fremont Peak Observatory is open to the public for viewing and
educational programs from April through October on Saturday evenings
that don't include a full moon (usually three Saturdays each
month). San Juan Bautista, 831-623-2465.
Classes
Lawrence Livermore Labs Student Enrichment Programs
Free lectures and demonstrations intended for students 5th grade
through high school.
Discovery Centers
The Children's Discovery
Museum
Encompassing the broad themes of community, connections and creativity,
exhibits invite self-directed, open-ended explorations, while
programs provide facilitated, focused, and sustained interactions.
180 Woz Way, San Jose, (408) 298-5437
Fresno Metropolitan
Museum of Art, History, and Science
A good place to see dinosaurs. 1515 Van Ness Avenue, Fresno,
CA 93721, (209) 441-1444
Sacramento Museum
of History, Science, and Technology (DBA: Discovery Museum)
Innovative programs and special events that engage participants
in lifelong learning. 101 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916)
264-7057 and 3615 Auburn Blvd. (916) 575-3941.
History Trips
California Gold
These folks will take you on a gold mining tour. Kids under 12
are free. Write them an interesting email about gold, and they
may send you a nugget. (Do ask a parent before giving anyone
your email address online.)
The
California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento
The world-class tribute to the role of the "iron horse"
in connecting California to the rest of the nation.
Ghost Town - Bodie, California
AN A TO Z ARTICLE
Homeschoolers haunt this historic gold mining town on a fine
October day. An online field trip.
Go Milpitas!
Silicon Valley, San Francisco Bay Area and general California
resources for homeschooling families, such as California History, field trip ideas, and Drivers Ed.
(My community website. Shameless plug.)
Old Sacramento
Experience the Sacramento of the Gold Rush. Enjoy museums,entertainment,
restaurants, lots of interesting shops, and plenty of great places
to stay at this National Registered Landmark and 28-acre State
Historic Park, on the river, in downtown Sacramento.
Rosie the Riviter
Historical Park
The headquarters of the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front
National Historical Park is now located in the interim Richmond
City Hall at 1401 Marina Way South, Suite C. Park staff will
be developing interim exhibits for the lobby. The new phone number
for the Superintendent's Office is 510-232-5050.
Homeschool Days
Adventure Zone
Family entertainment center near Sacramento has monthly afternoon set aside for homeschoolers only. 6031 Fair Oaks Blvd (at El Camino), Carmichael, CA 95608. (916) 972-7395.
Industry & Technology
Factory
Tours
Visit and learn about the industries that
make our state great. Members may submit reviews of their favorite
field trips.
Scharffen
Berger Chocolate Factory
Possibly the best chocolate in the world. Free tours, you can
book them on-line. Only drawback is minimum age (for the tour)
is 5th grade, but it is extremely informative on the history
of the origin of chocolate, the economics and politics, geography
etc. 914 Heinz Avenue Berkeley, CA 94710. 510 981-4050.
Science on Saturday
A series of free lectures and demonstrations targeted at middle
and high school students. Topics are selected from the forefront
of science and technology research in a variety of disciplines.
Held in Pleasanton and in the Central Valley. Check back monthly
for new classes.
Music
Clarion Music
Chinese musical instruments and exotic musical instruments of
the world. 816 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA, 415-391-1317.
Music at Kohl Mansion
We have two series which would be appropriate for homeschoolers:
Family Concerts and Children's Concerts. In Burlingame. 2750
Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010. (650) 762-1130
Natural History
Caverns of California
Guided Cave Tours, Spelunking Trips and Underground Gold Mine
Tours - Advanced Expeditions, Rappels and Family Cavern Expeditions
- Sutter Gold Mine explorations underground - Sierra Nevada Recreation
Corp.
Coyote Point Museum
for Environmental Education
Watch otters or foxes play as they are being fed. 1651 Coyote
Point Drive, San Mateo, CA 94401, (650) 342-7755
East
Bay Regional Park District
Activities for kids page, but do wander further into the site
for information about such things as boating, fishing, and camping.
Humboldt State
University Natural History Museum
Learn more about the natural wonders of the north coast of California.
1315 G Street, Arcata, CA 95521, (707) 826-4479
Lindsay Wildlife
Museum
A wildlife rehabilitation and educational center that focuses
on native California wildlife and natural history. 1931 First
Ave., Walnut Creek, (925) 935-1978.
Nature Explorers
of the East Bay
Our nature hikes in the East San Francisco Bay area for parents
and their young children (ages have been ranging from 18 months
to 10 years, with a lot of 4- to 7-year-old kids) have been wonderful
so far, and we have had a great time meeting new moms and their
children!
San Francisco Zoo
Despite the many reasons that draw people here, we know that
once they arrive at the Zoo, they will inevitably fall in love
with wildlife, and that upon their departure from the Zoo they
will begin their journey to become conservationists. Take a virtual
tour. Fees, hours and directions.
Santa Barbara Museum
of Natural History
A close look at the story of the region's birth, geology and
paleontology, native wildlife, rich marine life, and the culture
of the Chumash Indians. 2559 Puesta del Sol Road, Santa Barbara,
CA 93105, (805) 682-4711
Turtle Bay Museums
and Arboretum on the River
A collection of indoor/outdoor learning attractions with a focus
on the Sacramento River watershed, its natural inhabitants, regional
culture, and human history. 800 Auditorium Drive (street address),
P.O. Box 992360, Redding, CA 96099-2360, (530) 243-8850
Rural Life
Ceres Education Center | Heifer International
Global poverty and hunger issues are discussed and challenged
within service learning programs and tours. 3906 E. Don Pedro
Road, Ceres, CA 95307, (209) 537-8996
McFarland Living History Ranch
The students enter a portal of time back to the late 1800's.
Judging by the smiles and laughter learning is fun, not only
fun but also something students remember a lifetime. Galt Area
Historical Society, Inc. Galt CA 95632. For information call
(209) 745-0951.
Science Museums
California Academy
of Sciences
Be sure to check the Education section for great ideas and lesson
plans. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118-4499, (415)
221-5100
California Science
Center
The mission of the California Science Center is to stimulate
and nurture interest in science, mathematics, and technology,
to take an interdisciplinary approach that places them in a social
and cultural context. 700 State Drive, Los Angeles, (213) SCI-ENCE
Discovery Science
Center
Science, math and technology through interactive exhibits and
programs. 2500 Main St., Santa Ana, (714) 542-CUBE
Exploratorium
Housed within the walls of San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts,
the Exploratorium is a collage of over 650 science, art, and
human perception exhibits. 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco, (415)
561-0360
Experiment
Ideas, Museum
Store, Exploratorium
Exhibit Cross Reference
Explorit
Science Center
Our hands-on experiences are involving, open ended, user friendly,
and incorporate inquiry and problem solving strategies. P.O.
Box 1288, Davis, (530) 756-0191
Hall of Health
A community health-education museum and science center dedicated
to promoting wellness and individual responsibility for health.
2230 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, (510) 549-1564
Lawrence Hall of
Science
A singular resource center for preschool through high school
science and mathematics education, and a public science center
with exciting hands-on experiences for learners of all ages.
Centennial Dr., University of California Berkeley, (510) 642-5132
Reuben H. Fleet Science
Center
Seeks to inspire life-long learning by furthering the public's
understanding and enjoyment of science and technology. P.O. Box
33303, San Diego, (619) 238-1233
The Tech Museum of Innovation
With its worldwide reputation for technical innovation and economic
growth, Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area offer an
opportunity to create an educational model linking industry,
the schools and the community. 201 South Market St., San Jose,
(408) 294-TECH
Water Ways
Anacapa
Island, California
60 homeschoolers took this voyage past playing dolphins to a
lovely Pacific island off the Ventura coast. Lots of photos.
Bay Model
Visitor Center
Why a Bay Model? By building the Model in the late 1950's and
testing the Reber Plan, scientists and engineers were able to
determine that the proposed creation of several dams across the
Bay would adversly affect it's unique ecosystem. 2100 Bridgeway,
Sausalito, CA 94965, (415) 332-3871
Guadalupe
River Park & Gardens
2-Day Water Wizard summer enrichment day camps for ages 7-11
in San Jose. 408-298-7657.
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