By Viviana Morales

When was the last time you remember going on a field trip? Was it recently, or was it when your fourth grade class visited the Aquarium of the Pacific? Field trips are most common in elementary and middle school, where students visit their local zoos and the Discovery Cube. Now in high school, however, field trips are rare.

Field trips at Granada Hills Charter (GHC) are curriculum-focused, primarily organized by English and science teachers. These outings align closely with lesson plans and readings, providing hands-on learning experiences tailored to specific subjects.

“Museums are a big go-to for field trips,” Activities Office Assistant Jennifer Sheridan said. “Some groups of juniors and seniors have gone to Pierce College. The botanical gardens are popular too.”

Although some students have had the chance to venture beyond school grounds, many have missed out on this opportunity. Outside of after-school programs like Envirothon or Robodox, field trips are not a common part of the high school experience for most students.

The rarity of field trips isn’t just about oversight, however. The process of organizing a field trip is logistically challenging for teachers and the school.

Teachers must first submit a request form to their department chairs, which if approved proceeds to administration for additional approval. They also coordinate directly with the destination, such as the CSUN library, to confirm logistics and arrange necessary payments. The school also has to provide transportation and arrange buses. These extra steps can be challenging for teachers already managing packed schedules.

“A lot of the teachers are not familiar with the process and not ready to tackle field trips, since it’s not easy to take care of large groups at once outside of the classroom,” Sheridan said.

This complexity often leads teachers to avoid planning field trips, even though they offer enriching experiences. Some who take on the challenge opt to include multiple periods in one outing, which adds the need for additional chaperones, who have to be cleared and processed through the school, and adds to the logistical burden.

For students who do not get to go on a field trip during their high school years, it can be disappointing. However, the opportunity often depends on the time and support a teacher can dedicate to the process.

For those who do get to participate, the memories are invaluable. Not only do students get more hands-on experiences and real-world lessons, they also get to partake in conversations with classmates that would not have necessarily happened inside a classroom.

“We went to the Holocaust Museum in downtown Los Angeles,” senior Julissa Mercado said. “We had lunch in a beautiful park before. I am so glad I got to learn more about the Holocaust survivors and their history as well as seeing new parts of L.A.”