the field trip 17th door

Things To Do | Fullerton’s 17th Door haunted house just got…

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Subscriber only, things to do | fullerton’s 17th door haunted house just got scarier: here’s what to expect, this event is so scary that to enter, guests will have to sign a waiver to face their worst phobias and fears inside the 30-minute walk-thru attraction, which runs select evenings through oct. 31..

The Santa Clarita resident ended up getting hit with electric shocks, shot at by a firing squad, put in some sort of gas chamber and even had live roaches put inside his shirt.

At one point, he thought he was going to die.

And he loved every second of it.

At a peak, about 2000 visitors pass through the attraction nightly. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

An add-on to the attraction, guest pile into a van and are taken to another location. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

Guests are led into the experience. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

One of the owners, Adam Carpenter, of Laguna Hills, watches over the arrivals. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

A sign entitled “The Field Trip” greets guests. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

Two participants scream in the shock room. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

An add-on where guests are put into a van and taken to another area. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

Visitors are escorted from one room to another during the experience. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

Participants are placed in compartments during the experience. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

At one point, visitors are placed in chambers that fill with smoke. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

Fifty-five gallon drums appear to fall on visitors. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

Visitors receive a low voltage shock in one room. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

Visitors fill out a waiver at the entrance. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

Visitors react to a clown that appears our of nowhere. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

Visitors drop into a room with thousands of balls amidst smoke and fog. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

The entrance looks like a high-security facility. 17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

17th Door is one of the most terrifying haunts this season. Visitors will enter Perpetuum Penitentiary, where the inmates have been possessed by a dark force and they’re thirsty for new blood. There are several rooms within this maze, plus add-on scares including a 50-minute off-site road trip, where guests will jump in a van for a drive and an additional walk-through experience.Photographed on Sunday, 10/9/2022 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

“My friends just said we’re going to a haunted maze and I thought it was going to be just a haunted maze, not as scary as this was. At some points, I actually thought I was dying,” said Ma, who was noticeably out of breath and soaking wet as he stumbled out of The 17th Door, a haunted attraction based in Fullerton.

“But yeah, this was fun,” he said with a slight laugh, vowing that he would return again next year. “It’s thrilling … you may think you’re going to die, but you know you won’t.”

A haunting tale

The 17th Door, which is now open and runs select evenings through Oct. 31, has been recognized by horror fans as one of the most intense haunted attractions in the country.

How extreme is it?

You can’t even set foot inside the door without signing a waiver releasing The 17th Door from any liability once you enter the haunt, because the actors can — and most likely will — touch you and yell at you. There are also points where you’ll have to crawl on your hands and knees, hold your breath, be submerged in water and be trapped in a room that flips you from wall to wall.

“It’s intense, it’s scary, it’s over the top and extreme, but it’s also designed to be really fun,” said Heather Luther, who co-founded The 17th Door with her husband, Robbie Luther, in 2015. “We want to give the general public this extreme, immersive, fun experience.”

“But people also leave feeling really accomplished and amped up,” she added.

The main attraction is based on the fictional tale of Paula, a young girl with a traumatic past who enrolls into Gluttire University. But her demons follow her to college and now into Perpetuum Penitentiary, a prison where she has been locked up.

Inside the prison, there’s a cast of 160 actors dressed as all sorts of monsters, mad clowns, and zombie-like prisoners like Cochino Carlos.

“I’ve seen people pee their pants, throw up, all sorts of things here,” said the longtime cast member, who was wearing contact lenses that made his eyes appear to be all white, while sporting a sleeveless orange jumpsuit over this large, six-foot-plus frame.

“I feel extremely happy when that happens,” he said with a loud laugh while taking a break from the haunt.

Nightmares come true

Luther and her husband, who actually met at a haunted house, started The 17th Door after throwing the idea of opening their own haunt around for a few years. They decided that if they were going to do something, it would have to be next level, Luther said.

“The ideas were extreme, these crazy things we wanted to do with almost having the goal be shutdown,” she said with a laugh. “We wanted to do something very different than what was already available in the industry.”

The original 17th Door, which is named after the 17 rooms guests must get through in the approximately 30-minute experience, took place at the Tustin Market Place in 2015 and it definitely stood out to local horror fans as a unique Halloween event.

“People had to sign the waiver, and that’s a big thing because it allows the actors to touch the guests,” Luther said, adding that the psychological effect of signing the waiver has also helped boost its reputation. It became the tagline for the event, which sold out in its first season.

“It’s so scary you had to sign a waiver. It’s scary, it’s an intimidating piece,” Luther said. “We’ve also always incorporated electric shocks, which was one of the big things and we’ve always had live roaches from day one.”

She also added that her husband is terrified of the roaches.

The haunt, which relocated to a 16,000 square-foot warehouse inside a Fullerton shopping center in 2017 , includes rooms like the Tumbler, which spins while people are inside of it. There’s also the Cockroach Room, where a masked person plays with live roaches and then puts them on guests. Then there’s a room where people are locked in electric chairs and forced to shock each other.

In the firing squad room, guests are lined up with their faces against the wall as other guests shoot them with small pellets. The shooting victims are then moved to a different space where they get to shoot at the next group. There’s also a room where patrons are submerged in water and a gas chamber room that fills up with gas before a trap door suddenly opens and they’re dropped into a claustrophobic ball pit.

Elevating the experience

For a second year, The 17th Door’s Field Trip takes those who pay extra to an off-site location in a van for a combo drive-thru and walk-thru experience that takes its captors through a rave, a place filled with clowns and there are other spots where they’re tormented by a variety of characters before, hopefully, being returned safely to the prison.

All of the behind-the-scenes work at The 17th Door was captured in the 14-episode reality TV series, “Spook Show 17,” which is now streaming on YouTube. The cameras captured all of the drama and the pay off that comes with months of planning and constructing such an immersive and scary seasonal attraction.

“The thing that’s really cool is that for people who may be too afraid to go through the haunt, they can watch the show and decide if they want to come,” Luther said of the series.

On a busy Saturday night, with the attraction in full swing, diehard horror fans continued to brave what was waiting for them inside. Some even came from out of state to test their courage.

“The last door had water, I was submerged in water and that’s the one I didn’t do well in,” said 25-year-old Megan Pruett, a Phoenix, Ariz. resident who had just gone through the attraction.

“We were there for five seconds and I thought I was going to suffocate,” she added with a laugh. “It was fun and totally worth it. I like haunted houses and I’ve never been to one where they can touch you and it’s more realistic. But yeah, I would do this again.”

The 17th Door

When: Various times and select evenings through Oct. 31

Where:  The 17th Door, 1851 W. Orangethorpe Ave., Fullerton

Tickets: Staring at $32 at the17thdoor.com

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The 17th Door Haunt Experience

We return once more to Perpetuum Penitentiary and the torturous story of our Paula. After accepting responsibility for the vicious murder of her son, Lincoln, Paula now seeks atonement for past sins. Even after months of intense labor, strengthening her body and mind, Paula has repeatedly failed in appealing to the Prison’s sinister Warden for freedom. It’s not enough. It’s never enough.

Her work must continue.

At Perpetuum, a new circle of hell has taken root. Courtesy of Vixi Labs, and by the Warden’s decree, all Prison treatment facilities will now be powered by revolutionary Vixi-technology. Operated by vile and sadistic engineers, their unorthodox methods for treating evils of humanity have hit new levels of depravity. They are enjoying every minute.

Will you join Paula in her fight for redemption? Or will you succumb to the madness? Will you cry Mercy or will you emerge from Perpetuum changed and “FEARLESS”?

THE FIELD TRIP

The most epic add-on experience in 17th Door history. 

For the past four years, you have been the prime example of a perfect inmate. As a reward for your good behavior, the Warden has chosen you to attend a field trip, leaving behind the walls of the penitentiary for one special evening of rehabilitation. But, as you know by now at The 17th Door, you never know what will happen next. Welcome to The Field Trip.

This 50 minute off-site experience will transport you from the grim and gruesome prison to a pair of worlds that are both equally wacky and unique. From Rave Furries to Ratrod Clowns, you are in for a wild ride that includes chasing, hiding, drops, sparks, music, dancing, and a bunch of cool cars. Part drive through, part walk through, all fun, this intense experience is like nothing ever done before.

Once The Field Trip has concluded, all inmates will return back to the prison and will be ushered through a VIP entrance straight into The 17th Door maze experience to continue their sentence.

The Field Trip has extremely limited tickets available so you can either hear about how fun it was from someone else when it’s too late, or you can sign your permission slip and find out yourself! ***NOTE: ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR GROUP MUST PURCHASE ‘THE FIELD TRIP’ TICKETS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAY TOGETHER DURING THE MAIN HAUNT EXPERIENCE.

The Vixi Ward Experience

In the heyday of Perpetuum Penitentiary, the prison partnered with the enigmatic Vixi Labs on a new experimental treatment method for its most troublesome inmates. Touting a revolutionary machine that was capable of interfacing with the human brain—the VRX-2000 headset—Vixi Labs helped Perpetuum to establish the new Vixi Ward within the prison.

Now, Perpetuum has expanded their contract with Vixi Labs. After operating discreetly for decades, Vixi Ward has rolled out their treatment in full force to pacify the Prison’s exceedingly unruly inmates.

Guests sentenced to Vixi Ward will face a 15 minute immersive experience. Guests must first endure a pre-op procedure to assess their fitness for treatment. They will then don the VRX-2000 headset themselves to begin their virtual reality experience. Once the guests’ treatment concludes, they will then be snuck back into inmate general population using a secret entrance. There, they will begin the 17 th  Door maze inside Perpetuum.

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The 17th Door Haunt Experience

Own this Attraction?

The 17th Door Haunt Experience is a Haunted Attraction located in Buena Park, CA.

8420 On the Mall, Buena Park, CA 90620

Special Directions: Located in the Buena Park Downtown Mall, on the corner of La Palma Ave & Dale St. Park near the 24 Hour Fitness. Walk down the corridor on the right side of 24 Hour Fitness to find our entrance.

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About This Attraction:

Haunt Types:

# of Attractions: 1

Min. Recommended Age: 16

The 17th Door has moved its over-the-top immersive experience to Buena Park, Orange County. As one of the scariest, most intense, and most interactive haunted houses in the country, they have continued their pursuit to innovate and push the boundaries within the haunt industry. With a new location, even bigger and better than before, comes exciting future opportunities and room to expand. The 17th Door is excited to present more unique experiences that have never been undertaken before in a haunt!

Each year, the team at The 17th Door looks to outdo themselves and raise the bar with cutting edge scares you won’t find elsewhere. In the 2023 season, guests will experience new added surprises… more of what they love, and more of what they hate! Will you cry ‘Mercy?’ Or will you survive all 35 minutes of psychological terror?

Heinous crimes deserve a severe sentence at Perpetuum Penitentiary, the most horrendous prison. A darkness has seized control of the inmates. Muffled screams of suffering ooze out of every crack and crevice of the dismal stone walls. At Perpetuum, a new circle of hell has taken root. Courtesy of Vixi Labs, all prison treatment facilities will now be powered by revolutionary Vixi-technology. Operated by vile and sadistic engineers, their unorthodox methods for treating evils of humanity have hit new levels of depravity. They are enjoying every minute.

Evil pervades this space which has become a black reality. The question is… Will it become yours? Go cautiously, as the prisoners of Perpetuum’s cell blocks have no concept of confinement and are thirsty for the sweet-smelling blood of new victims. No one escapes. Your only hope is to survive. Will you cry Mercy or will you emerge from Perpetuum Penitentiary stronger than before?

***Must sign waiver to enter***

THE FIELD TRIP EXPERIENCE The most epic add-on experience in 17th Door history. This 50 minute off-site experience will transport you from the grim and gruesome prison to a pair of worlds that are both equally wacky and unique. From Rave Gangs to Ratrod Clowns, you are in for a wild ride that includes chasing, hiding, drops, sparks, music, dancing, and a bunch of cool cars. Part drive through, part walk through, all fun, this intense experience is like nothing ever done before. Once The Field Trip has concluded, all inmates will return back to the prison and will be ushered through a VIP entrance straight into The 17th Door maze experience to continue their sentence. The Field Trip has extremely limited tickets available so you can either hear about how fun it was from someone else when it’s too late, or you can sign your permission slip and find out yourself! ***NOTE: ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR GROUP MUST PURCHASE ‘THE FIELD TRIP’ TICKETS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAY TOGETHER DURING THE MAIN HAUNT EXPERIENCE.

Free Parking, Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site, Gift Shop/Souvenirs, “Hi-Tech” Attraction, “Extreme” Attraction, You may be touched, Original Characters, Uncovered Outdoor Waiting Line, All-Indoor Attraction

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Guest Reviews Guest Average: 10 out of 10

Rob – 10 / 10 – September 30, 2023 Excellent professional scare teams. Very well done! Loved it. Will do this every year from now …show more on. These people know how to deliver the goods!! Sign that waiver!! So worth it. Do both the Field and the 17th Door!

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Exclusive insight on Orange County’s haunt experience, the 17th Door

Explore the 17th Door Haunt Experience this October. Sugar Skull Productions | guest

Why the 17th Door is the spookiest event in OC

The 17th Door, located in the city of Fullerton on Orangethorpe Avenue, is a creepy Halloween extravaganza for those who love to scream, laugh and be absolutely amazed at haunted houses. This haunt experience is open Thursday through Sunday from Sept. 17 to Oct. 31, and it welcomes any and all thrill-seekers who live in the tri state area.

We have special insight from one of the production’s team members to describe a little bit about what goes on behind the scenes at the 17th Door and why all adults in Orange County, who love Halloween time, should come participate in the experience before it is over. Staff member for the 2021 17th Door Haunt, Skye Fielder describes the experience as “Orange County’s gnarliest haunt experience. It’s basically 17 rooms that you go through that are all prison-themed and it’s all based on a storyline about this girl named Paula, who got thrown in jail.” “It contains a lot of explicit content and it’s on a huge technical timer, so each room is 1 to 2 minutes long. It’s not like a normal maze that you walk through where actors are just popping out at you. It is very immersive with the actors as they’re allowed to touch you, tase you, cut your hair, put cockroaches on you after you sign the waiver,” Fielder explains. Many critics on Yelp rave about how dedicated the actors and staff are at the haunted house. After signing the mandatory waiver, consenting to a variety of risky activities required to participate in this hands-on experience, you are met with several bone-chilling characters played by their amazing actors to enhance your time at the event. Fielder claims that the most interesting character throughout the maze is met inside the “fright elevator and the character in the fright elevator is a gimp in a sex swing with a morphsuit on and an 18-inch ponytail hanging out of his mask.” “The 17th Door is not kid-friendly, however, a lot of elderly people and younger kids go through. But, a lot of the content there is super explicit,” Fielder states. Anyone and everyone who is attracted to being thrilled by an intense haunted house or maze to get them in the Halloween spirit is guaranteed to have a spooky time. In the 17th Door’s strobe lights, fog, lasers, deadly noises and moving floors. “My favorite part about the 17th Door is the community there,” Fielder explains. “All the workers do an amazing job putting it together and the technical aspect is truly mind-blowing.” The 17th Door Haunt Experience is not the only event the 17th Door offers. There is the Field Trip experience and Virtual Reality experience as well. “I think everyone should come check out the 17th Door this haunt season because it’s different every single year and they added a new experience called the ‘Field Trip,’ which is a completely separate and fun experience,” says Fielder. “In addition to that, overall, again, the technical aspect is so mind-blowing and it’s a very immersive and entertaining experience.” The 17th Door Haunt Experience is said to be an amazing way to spend an evening in Orange County during the Halloween season and is guaranteed to meet your expectations. Just know, if you ever get too scared, just yell, “Mercy!”

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The 17th Door

Immersive Extreme Haunt Experience

THE 17TH DOOR: 2023

Heinous crimes deserve a severe sentence at Perpetuum Penitentiary, the most horrendous prison. A darkness has seized control of the inmates. Muffled screams of suffering ooze out of every crack and crevice of the dismal stone walls. At Perpetuum, a new circle of hell has taken root. Courtesy of Vixi Labs, all prison treatment facilities will now be powered by revolutionary Vixi-technology. Operated by vile and sadistic engineers, their unorthodox methods for treating evils of humanity have hit new levels of depravity. They are enjoying every minute.

Evil pervades this space which has become a black reality. The question is… Will it become yours? Go cautiously, as the prisoners of Perpetuum’s cell blocks have no concept of confinement and are thirsty for the sweet-smelling blood of new victims. No one escapes. Your only hope is to survive. 

Will you cry Mercy or will you emerge from Perpetuum Penitentiary stronger than before?

8420 ON THE MALL BUENA PARK, CA 90620

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Bring Back In-Person Field Trips. Here’s Why

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Just as peak field trip season was set to get underway in the spring of 2020, the pandemic hit. Schools, and the cultural institutions and countless other organizations that normally welcome K-12 students for experiential learning, closed their doors.

“The pandemic was absolutely devastating for field trips. They went off a cliff, even when schools went back to in-person,” said Susie Wilkening, principal of Wilkening Consulting, a Seattle-based audience research firm.

Statistics bear this out. In the spring of 2023, Wilkening Consulting and the American Alliance of Museums conducted a survey of 340 museum directors from around the country on post-pandemic visitation. Forty percent of respondents reported that they continued to experience lower on-site visitation from K-12 teachers and students.

Several factors may be keeping schools from venturing back to in-person field trips. Virtual field trips rose in popularity during the pandemic, allowing students to glimpse educational sites as far-flung as the Egyptian pyramids or the Louvre art museum in Paris from the comfort of their homes or classrooms—and those opportunities still exist.

Logistics and funding may also be preventing schools from returning to on-site field trips. Educational researchers have suggested that some schools prioritize putting resources toward activities that may improve student achievement on standardized tests over experiences like field trips, whose results aren’t as quantifiable. That may especially be the case for schools struggling to help students recover from pandemic-era learning declines.

The argument for doing field trips again

But a growing body of research, advocacy from some district-level officials, and anecdotes from students provide compelling reasons for bringing back in-person field trips.

Lin Tajeken Jeufack, a high school junior at Kenwood High School in Maryland’s Baltimore County schools, vividly recalls how a 6th grade field trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore that offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse into husbandry of aquatic animals planted an idea in her head about one day becoming a marine biologist.

Lin described testing the water in the animal tanks, peering under a microscope in an onsite laboratory at the aquarium, and learning about a profession she knew little about. The 16-year-old, who is now enrolled in her school’s International Baccalaureate program, volunteers at a local hospital, and says she’s leaning toward majoring in math in college, though she hasn’t ruled out a career in marine biology. Lin still welcomes the opportunity to attend in-person field trips—like a recent outing to the Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute, an art museum that features a “Giant Heart” exhibit that allows visitors to walk through the organ’s enormous, lifelike chambers.

“I think students feel safer now [post-pandemic],” said Lin. “We have a really tough course load; we’re always working. It’s good for us to get away from school for a little while.”

Field trips are especially beneficial for disadvantaged students

The lasting benefits of field trips don’t necessarily register in students’ consciousness at the moment of the visit. But these experiential outings have been proven to increase student interest in, knowledge about, and motivation to study subject matter to which they’re exposed, according to a sweeping, decade-old report by Ohio University researchers on field trips. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds tend to reap the biggest benefits from these experiences, as they are less likely to have the opportunity to engage in these activities outside of school-sponsored trips.

That’s not lost on Kadee Anstadt, superintendent/CEO of Washington Local Schools in Toledo, Ohio, who’s committed to ensuring that the students in her high-poverty district take field trips routinely.

“We are quite intentional now about the breadth of experiences we are offering our students,” said Anstadt, who recently established what she refers to as “superinten-dates,” in which she personally takes groups of students on field trips they likely wouldn’t otherwise experience.

“As an urban district, our kids sometimes don’t get to see their larger community. We’ve been to the Detroit Auto Show, to hear a Holocaust survivor, experienced the Toledo Opera, and taken the entire junior class to the Henry Ford Museum,” she said.

Some of the field trips students in the Washington Local Schools take are culturally enriching; others, practical. The district has developed a partnership with two local YMCA branches in which every 2nd grader receives eight water safety lessons.

“This ensures our kids know the dangers of a pool, pond, or lake, and also know how to get help if they need it. Some learn to swim during this time. For so many, it’s the first time they’ve ever been in a pool,” said Anstadt.

Since last year, more than 1,000 of the district’s approximately 7,000 students have received the lessons.

Fish hatcheries, hiking, ice fishing, and Native American landmarks

Laurie Barron, superintendent of the Evergreen school district in Montana, shares a philosophy on experiential field trips similar to Anstadt’s—but with vastly different surroundings to explore.

“We are in northwestern Montana bordering Glacier National Park, a recreation mecca,” said Barron, reeling off a number of recreational and cultural resources available within a quick bus trip: fish hatcheries, hiking, ice fishing, skiing, forestry opportunities, and Native American landmarks.

Barron says administrators aim for younger students in the K-8 district to go on between two and four trips per year, a number that increases to six to eight trips by the time students reach 8th grade.

“We love for them to have several off-campus opportunities each year, experiencing the great west Montana outdoors. It’s very relevant and easy to connect that to our curriculum and content,” Barron said. “And students remember a lot more that way than just reading about places in a book.”

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