Many parents hesitate to unschool because they worry about not knowing enough to teach their children every subject. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to be the sole source of knowledge for your kids! Learning can happen organically when you tap into the resources in your community and embrace real-world experiences.
Think back to traditional schooling—how often did kids go on field trips? Once or twice a year? When you unschool, every day can be a field trip if you want it to be!
When I first brought my son home from going to the local public school, he was so excited about getting to go out into the community. His one Spring Field Trip had been canceled at the last minute and he was so disappointed. I told him we could go whenever we wanted! Wow! I'll always remember the look on his face!
You can have this too - learning doesn't have to look like school classrooms at all!
When you shift to this kind of approach, learning is much more dynamic and memorable.
Plus, children get to see how knowledge applies in the real world.
I know, most of us didn't grow up this way and you may be thinking, "OK, like what?"
So glad you asked! I'm going to minimize your stress and give you a bunch of ideas you can tap into for opportunities out in your community!
Here are ten creative field trip ideas not to be overlooked! I'm including some subjects they touch on, in case you're worried that there isn't enough learning! Keep deschooling - but in the meantime, here you go!
1. Farmers' Market or Local Farm Visit
2. Art Museum or Local Art Walk
3. Science or Natural History Museum
4. Nature Hike or State/National Park
5. Historic Town or Heritage Village
6. Local Theater or Community Performance
7. Factory Tour
8. Animal Shelter or Wildlife Center
9. Planetarium or Observatory
10. Grocery Store Tour and Cooking Class
These experiences do more than teach specific subjects—they ignite curiosity and connect children with the world around them. Kids start to see that learning isn’t confined to a textbook or classroom; it’s everywhere! As parents, your role is not to “know it all” but to facilitate and encourage exploration.
When you tap into your community, you’ll discover countless resources and opportunities for your children to engage, learn, and grow. You’re no longer restricted by a school calendar or budget—field trips can happen whenever inspiration strikes.
So, take a step back from the pressure of being a “teacher” and embrace your role as a guide and partner in learning. The world is your classroom—enjoy exploring it together!
Which of these ideas are you most excited to try?
Or do you have other field trip ideas to share?
Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear how your unschooling journey unfolds!
I live in the Austin area, and we have a variety of websites - with social media and email too - that offer so many ideas for the local community. Ours is 365 Fun Things to do in Austin. I'm sure you have something similar - go ahead and Google it! Let the adventures begin!