Week of November 8, 2026 – November 14, 2026
by Amelia Gross, Environmental Educator
“Raise your hand if you had fun on the field trip today,” was a question asked almost 70 times by our education team during our 5th grade field trip program with the Syracuse City School District. Throughout September and October, 19 schools brought nearly 1,000 students to Baltimore Woods where they spent the morning exploring different ecosystems. After they’ve admired the fall colors, listened to birds, and of course, played games, we ask them a couple of questions, including whether they had fun. Overwhelmingly, the hands shoot up and they are eager to share their favorite part of the trip.
The benefits of outdoor learning are well established, and we know most students come away from this experience with a deeper understanding of ecosystems, food webs, and energy, but what is even more memorable is just how much fun they had. Their excited squeals echo throughout the valley, and if you happened to be at the Woods on one of the many sunny mornings this fall, you probably heard it too. Kids all around are exclaiming how excited they are to be on their very first hike or how badly they want to see a snake.
Many may start hesitant, but the hands raised at the end tell the true story. In their own words, the 5th graders had fun playing games or hiking or…
“Finding slugs”
“The dark forest”
“Seeing all the leaves”
“Holding a spider”
“Being in nature”
“Listening to the stream”
“Everything!”
“Learning about squirrels”
“Resting”
“Seeing different mushrooms”
“It was quiet and peaceful”
“Hugging trees”
“Looking at nature”
“Looking for bugs”
“Exploring”
And the list goes on. There is no replicating the experience of a morning spent learning outside, and many teachers express how beneficial it is for their students to have a hands-on experience in nature. Even though field trip season, we will visit all our 5th grade classes three more times for Nature in the City this year to keep engaging in science exploration.