Educational Field Trips In The Triad

The Triad is one of the most field-trip-rich corners of North Carolina, packing world-class science, deep Revolutionary and Civil Rights history, and hands-on play into a short drive. Whether you are a teacher planning a bus trip, a homeschool parent building a unit, or a scout leader looking for a meaningful outing, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, and nearby Asheboro give you destinations that meet North Carolina curriculum standards and genuinely stick with kids. Here are the best educational field trips in the Triad, with the practical booking details you actually need.

Science and Nature Field Trips

Greensboro Science Center

The Greensboro Science Center is the rare attraction that combines an aquarium, a zoo, and a hands-on science museum under one admission, which makes it the single most efficient field trip in the region. Groups explore at their own pace, and you should plan for at least 2.5 hours to see it all. Classes can add a live Science Presentation to deepen the visit, and thrill-seeking older groups can book the SKYWILD adventure park or FLYWAY zipline as an add-on.

Group rates: $18 per person (plus tax) for groups of 10 or more; Guilford County Public Schools receive a discounted rate of $15 per student (plus tax).
Add-ons: Science Presentations are $125 per program ($100 for Guilford County schools).
Reservations: Submit a Group Visit Request Form at least two business weeks in advance.
Plan your visit: 4301 Lawndale Dr., Greensboro, NC 27455. Open daily 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Field trip questions: learn@greensboroscience.org or 336-288-3769 x1405.

North Carolina Zoo

Roughly an hour south of Greensboro in Asheboro, the North Carolina Zoo is the largest natural-habitat zoo in the country, spread across thousands of acres with North America and Africa regions connected by tram. It is a full-day trip and a fantastic anchor for life science, ecology, and conservation units. Wear comfortable shoes: this is a lot of walking, and the scale is part of the lesson.

School pricing: NC public, private, and registered home schools (K-12) receive one complimentary teacher or staff admission for every 10 students. Group ticket pricing is available for groups of 15 or more. Out-of-state schools purchase tickets online and are not eligible for free admission.
Reservations: Book at least one week ahead by calling Zoo Advance Tickets and Reservations at 336-879-7700, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Plan your visit: 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205.

History Field Trips

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

On March 15, 1781, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse cost the British so many men that it helped set the stage for the surrender at Yorktown. Today Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, the first Revolutionary War battlefield to become a national military park, brings that story to life with ranger-led programs across the wooded battleground in northwest Greensboro. The National Park Service offers interactive field trips that pair well with American Revolution and North Carolina history standards, plus a free self-guided audio tour through the official NPS app.

Cost: Park entry is free.
Field trips: Available year-round (peak season September through May), with the most staff on Thursdays and Fridays. Standard field trips run about three hours. Teachers must schedule at least two weeks in advance. The park does not host field trips during the week of the March 15 anniversary commemoration.
Plan your visit: 2332 New Garden Road, Greensboro, NC 27410. Visitor center open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday. Phone 336-288-1776.

International Civil Rights Center and Museum

Housed in the historic F.W. Woolworth building on South Elm Street, the International Civil Rights Center and Museum preserves the very lunch counter where four North Carolina A&T students launched the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins. Guided tours walk students through the segregated South and the fight for equality in education, employment, and daily life, making this one of the most powerful history field trips in the state. The museum hosts numerous school groups each year and develops curriculum resources aligned to state and national standards. Because tours are guided and timed, advance booking is essential. The museum sits at 134 South Elm St., Greensboro, NC 27401, in the heart of downtown; call ahead for current group rates and tour times.

Old Salem Museums and Gardens

In Winston-Salem, Old Salem Museums and Gardens is a living-history town where costumed interpreters demonstrate the trades and daily life of the Moravian settlers who founded the community in the 1700s. The Hands-on-History field trips combine three guided behind-the-scenes activities with a self-guided walk through the restored historic buildings, typically running 2.5 to 3 hours.

Field trip days: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed January).
Booking: Submit requests well ahead; payment is due 30 days before your visit. Schools receive one complimentary adult ticket per 12 students. Title I elementary schools in Forsyth County receive discounts.
Plan your visit: 900 Old Salem Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Group Tours Office: 336-721-7345.

Greensboro History Museum

For younger students and tighter budgets, the Greensboro History Museum offers free, standards-aligned field trips for grades K through 6. Hands-on programs such as Welcome to the Gate City! and Dollars and Changing Times turn local history into experiential learning. Trips run October through May, Tuesday through Friday, starting at 9:30 a.m., for groups of up to 72 students.

Cost: Free for public, charter, and private schools.
Plan your visit: 130 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27401. Phone 336-373-2043. Museum hours Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Hands-On Learning Through Play

Kaleideum

Winston-Salem’s Kaleideum blends a children’s museum and a science museum with a planetarium, all in a downtown building purpose-built for exploration. Field trip groups get a special bus entrance, classroom programs, planetarium shows, and access to every exhibit, plus a cafeteria for lunch. It is an excellent fit for elementary classes and STEM-focused outings.

Group rates: Discounted rates for groups of 10 or more children.
Booking: Reserve with the museum scheduler at scheduling@kaleideum.org to secure the group rate.
Plan your visit: 120 W 3rd St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Note that during the school year the museum is open full days on Mondays only when Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools are closed.

Körner’s Folly

In nearby Kernersville, Körner’s Folly is a delightfully eccentric Victorian house with 22 rooms across seven levels, no two ceilings the same height, and the oldest private little theatre in the country tucked into the top floor. It is a memorable stop for art, architecture, and local-history lessons. Schools, scouts, and educators can arrange reserved visits and private guided tours by contacting the Community Engagement Manager at brittany@kornersfolly.org or 336-996-7922 ext. 102 for pricing and availability.

How to Make Your Triad Field Trip Run Smoothly

A few habits separate a smooth field trip from a stressful one across all of these destinations:

Book early. Most Triad venues require two to four weeks of lead time, and Old Salem asks for 30 days. Spring is the busiest season, so popular dates fill fast.
Confirm chaperone ratios. Many sites offer free teacher or chaperone admission for every 10 to 12 students, so build your adult count around the policy to keep costs down.
Plan lunch. The Science Center, Kaleideum, Old Salem, and the NC Zoo all accommodate bagged lunches; ask about designated areas when you book.
Match the trip to your standards. The Greensboro History Museum, Guilford Courthouse, and the Civil Rights Center publish curriculum-aligned programs, which makes pre- and post-visit lessons easy to build.

If you are traveling from out of town and need to stay overnight before an early start, Greensboro and Winston-Salem both offer plenty of Expedia-bookable hotels near their downtown attractions and along the I-40 and Wendover corridors, making it easy to base your group close to the day’s first stop.

Planning tip: Build your itinerary around one anchor destination per day rather than trying to cram two in. The NC Zoo, Old Salem, and the Science Center each comfortably fill a full school day on their own, and a single, unhurried visit almost always teaches more than a rushed double-header.