Field Trip Ideas in Orange County

Mission San Juan Capistrano

For a journey through Orange County history, start with its founding mission, established over 200 years ago. You'll see preserved original chapels and barracks, adobe wall ruins and well-maintained gardens. Group tours of 15 or more that are self-guided cost $6 per person, while docent-led ones cost $8 per person and run about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Free materials depend on the tour and the date booked, so check the website.

Mission San Juan Capistrano
26801 Ortega Hwy
San Juan Capistrano, California 92675
(949) 234-1300
www.missionsjc.com/tours.html

OCPAC

OCPAC's "On Stage At The Center" offers special 60 minute performances of dance, theater, music and puppetry to groups ranging from kindergartners to eighth-graders. Student and activity guides are mailed to the reserving class before each show to provide talking points for before and after the trip. Tickets are $5 per person with a free chaperone ticket for every 15 student tickets.

OCPAC
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, California 92626
(714) 556-2122 ext. 4333, Option 1 for more information
www.ocpac.org/home/Content/ContentDisplay.aspx?NavID=271

Piglet

With a focus on agriculture, this free three-acre, working farm houses vegetables and fruit gardens, a barn and livestock such as goats, pigs, cattle and chicken. Guided tours for kindergarten through third grade last 1 1/2 hours. In addition, a half-day Agademics program is tailored to 4th and 5th graders. Other grades can reserve self-guided tours. Bookings rules are fairly extensive, so check the website.

OC Fair & Event Center
88 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, California 92626
(714) 708-1500
www.ocfair.com/ocf/CentennialFarm/Tours.asp

Sea lions

Take the kids on a shipboard excursion aboard the research vessel Conqueror. Tours focus on your choice of water fowl, dolphins, seals, sea lions or whales, with some programs offering hands-on experiences with marine life. All reservations come with extensive materials as well as pre- and post-trip activities. You'll need to contact them for details and prices since tours are individually customized.

Long beach Marine Institute
6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy
Long Beach, California 90803
(562) 431-7156
www.longbeachmarine.org/shipboard.html

Discovery Science Center

You can let your students loose to amuse themselves with unintended learning as they grapple with hands-on permanent exhibits ranging from computers to sports and fossils to earthquakes, supplemented by ever-changing traveling shows. Or more effectively, you can use their grade-specific programs on physics, biology or earth science, which cost $8 per student and lasts two hours. Educational materials, activity books and a live demonstration are all included.

Discovery Science Center
2500 N. Main Street
Santa Ana, California 92705
(714) 542-2823
www.discoverycube.org/programs.aspx?q=14