Skip to Content

40+ Best Homeschool Field Trips in San Bernardino County

Check out this list of 40+ School Feld Trips in San Bernardino County, Calfornia. From farm tours to art museums to nature hikes, there are fun field trips for all ages and interest levels.

When students go on field trips and participate in hands-on activities within real-world environments, they experience learning in a whole new way.  Field trips provide students the opportunity to connect their homeschool or classroom lessons to real-life experiences and tangible artifacts.  Field trips also provide students access to culture, history, and art that may be left out of the regular curriculum.

In summary, field trips enrich learning experiences unlike anything else!  So, to help spark your students’ interest in learning, here is a list of 40+ Best School Field Trips in San Bernardino County!

Best Students Field Trips in San Bernardino County

The Agua Mansa Pioneer Cemetery, Colton

The communities of Agua Mansa and La Placita, across from each other along the Santa Ana River, were the first non-native settlements in the San Bernardino Valley and had the first church and school.  These villages were the largest settlement between New Mexico, and Los Angeles during the 1840s.  Today, the Agua Mansa Pioneer Cemetery is all that remains of these once- thriving communities.

Alpine Slide at Magic MountainBig Bear Lake

The Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain is open all year and is Southern California’s only authentic bobsled experience.  They have a cool water slide in the summer and plenty of snow play in the winter.

Amazon Fulfillment Center Tour, San Bernardino

Amazon offers tours of their fulfillment centers on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time. Come see the magic that happens after you click buy on Amazon.  Tours are available for anyone ages 6 and up.

Amy’s Farm, Ontario

Amy’s Farm is a fun and unique experience for all ages.  From early childhood to senior citizens, they offer age-appropriate tours for all visitors.   Enjoy a garden walk, smell fresh herbs, feed the pigs, visit the petting zoo, milk a cow and visit their horses.

Museum tours in San Bernardino California

The Asistencia, Redlands

Established in 1819 as a part of the Mission San Gabriel’s Rancho San Bernardino, the original Asistencia or more correctly – Estancia functioned as an outpost for cattle grazing activities.   The Asistencia buildings you can visit today are reproductions built in the 1930s and located approximately one mile east of the original Estancia site.   A visit to the Asistencia will allow you the chance to visit its museum, walk through historic rooms, and relax in the gardens.

Big Bear Alpine Zoo, Big Bear

Big Bear Alpine Zoo is one of two Alpine zoos in the United States.  It specializes in the rehabilitation and release of local Alpine species and has a permanent collection of animals for visitors to see and enjoy.  They offer docent-led tours for school groups.  Tours are included in the price of admission.  During a tour, students will learn about:

  • The history of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo and why we are so important to the San Bernardino National Forest
  • Where the animals came from and why they must remain in our care
  • Interesting facts about each animal in our care
  • Fun facts like what a Mountain Lion’s tongue feels like and how far they can jump and the size of a grizzly paw
  • What you can do to protect the animals in the wild
  • How the Big Bear Alpine Zoo staff rehabilitates and releases animals

Big Bear Discovery Center, Big Bear

Opened in 1998, the Big Bear Discovery Center is the largest visitor center in the Big Bear Valley.  Stop by and enjoy their exhibits, weekly programs, eco-tours, and special events like outdoor concerts, theater productions, and nighttime interpretive programs in the Big Bear Discovery Center Amphitheater.

Their Nature Discovery Zone is the first Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom in the National Forest system.  Kids, ages 2 to 7, learn about their connection to the environment and how they can help protect it.  The 9 Interactive Play Areas include the Gathering Area, Nature Art, Messy Materials, Building, Climbing and Crawling, Music and Movement, Pathways Through Planting, Dirt Digging and Quiet Area.

Big Bear Valley Historical (Eleanor Abbott) MuseumBig Bear

An extensive collection of artifacts, featuring exhibits from the indigenous Serrano Indians, the gold mining era, cowboys and cattle ranching, logging, fox farming and early winter sports.

Cal-Earth, Hesperia

Cal-Earth allows children the opportunity to build a dome home with their classmates by using supplies provided mainly by Mother Earth.  It is a team building exercise aimed at creating unity amongst students.  Through interactive exercises and storytelling, Cal-Earth teaches grades K-12 about the Superadobe building technique which is a certain type of sustainable earth architecture.  Cal-Earth’s field trips are also reasonably priced at only $10.00 per child, with a minimum of a $100.00 per trip.

Chino Basin Water Conservation District Watershed, Chino

CBWCD offers free hands-on programs for K-12 to support student inquiry and discovery of our watershed, the plants and animals we share it with, and how our actions impact it.  Their programs are designed to immerse students in the practices of scientific investigation and engineering design in an outdoor setting.  Each Field Trip Program includes a hands-on classroom science or design lab and an outdoor field observation portion.   Trips begin at 9 am and are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays from October to May.  Programs are free to all groups on a first come first serve basis and subject to availability.

Little boy on a school field trip in the Inland Empire

Chino Hills State ParkChino Hills

Chino Hills State Park, a premier natural open-space area in the hills of Santa Ana Canyon near Riverside, is a critical link in the Puente-Chino Hills biological corridor. It encompasses stands of oaks, sycamores and rolling, grassy hills that stretch nearly 31 miles, from the Santa Ana Mountains to the Whittier Hills. Chino Hills is vitally important as a refuge to many species of plants and as a link between natural areas essential to the survival of many animal species.

Their field trip program is aimed at 4th-grade students to dive into answering the question: “What does biodiversity mean to us and our surroundings?”  Students will embark on a 2-hour field trip with three stations, each one designed to build on the others, to help them discover what biodiversity means to them and to Chino Hills State Park.

Chino Youth Museum, Chino

The Chino Youth Museum’s mission statement is to provide an interactive learning environment to foster a better understanding of tomorrow through an appreciation of yesterday and today.  On the first Friday of every month, they host a free family event that features an entertainer, craft, and a healthy snack.  Teachers and troop leaders can plan a field trip to the museum, which includes an art project.

Cucamonga Valley Water District Environmental Learning Center, Rancho Cucamonga

The Environmental Learning Center was developed to provide students with a hands-on water and environmental education field trip opportunity. The Environmental Learning Center and Learning Garden are an opportunity for students 1-6 grade to participate in activities ranging from healthy eating to owl pellet dissection to microscope investigation.

Fingerprints Youth MuseumHemet

Where you can Teach It, Touch It and Test It.   Come play, explore, and learn.  Education Enrichment Programs and Exhibits

Fiesta Village, Colton

Fiesta Village offers fun and affordably priced attractions and activities for all ages. With a wide variety to choose from, children, teenagers, and adults will be sure to have a blast!  Fiesta Village won the Redlands Daily and San Bernardino Sun Facts Readers Choice “Best Place for Kids to Have Fun” 10 years in a row (2007 to 2017)!

Fontana Arts Program, Fontana

The Fontana Arts is focused on enriching and enhancing the quality of life for children, youth, and adult community members by providing an opportunity for personal inspiration, artistic expression and appreciation of the arts through events and activities in the Fontana Community.

Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary, Phelan

Forever Wild offers group events, field trips, guided tours and a very popular extreme feeds tours. From school field trips to their fun and festive events like  “A Very Wild Christmas” and “The Wild Easter Egg Hunt”, there is always something lively happening at the sanctuary!

George F. Beattie Planetarium, San Bernardino

The 57-seat Planetarium features a star projector that can provide views from the North Pole to the South Pole, showing all the stars that can be seen with the unaided eye on the darkest and clearest nights.  All public shows are at 7 p.m. on Friday nights.  One of the most popular shows is “The Christmas Star,’’ which is presented three times in December.

Graber Olive House, Ontario

Tours are available throughout the year and in the fall visitors may view the many activities which center around the long and careful tradition of grading, curing and canning Graber Olives.

The Hemet Museum, Hemet

Operated entirely by volunteers, presents a panorama of local history in the freight house of Hemet’s Historic Santa Fe Depot.

Adobe Tour in San Bernardino California

Highland Sam J. Racadio Library & Environmental Learning Center, Highland

They have an outdoor environmental learning center for children to visit and explore.

Inland Water Education Programs, Various Cities in San Bernardino County

EMWD’s Water Education program offers field trips for students in grade levels 3-12 from the 11 school districts and private schools within Eastern’s service area.  The three-hour tours are limited to a maximum of 35 students with a requirement of a one-to-eight adult-to-student ratio.

John Rains House, Rancho Cucamonga

The Casa de Rancho Cucamonga Historical Society was organized to assist in the restoration, maintenance, and furnishing of the John Rains House in keeping with its 1860 origin.  Docents welcome guests when the house is open to the public and for group tours.

Joshua Tree National ParkTwentynine Palms

A fascinating variety of plants and animals that make their home in this land shaped by strong winds, unpredictable torrents of rain, and climatic extremes.  Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the attraction of this place.

Kimberly Crest House & GardensRedlands

Kimberly Crest, a picturesque French chateau style home built in 1897, is a well-preserved example of the Victorian Era in California.  The 7,000 square foot, three-story chateau sits on a six and one quarter acre estate two miles south of downtown Redlands and is enjoyed by more than 11,000 visitors annually.

Lighthouse Theatre, Redlands

The LifeTales Educational Series put on by Lighthouse Theatre is a series of musical biographies for students.  LifeHouse hosts hundreds of young people from schools all over the Inland Empire for one-hour profiles of historical figures each year.  These events are excellent field trips and teachers receive a free curriculum guide.

Lincoln Memorial Shrine, Redlands

The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is the only museum and archives dedicated to the study of Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War west of the Mississippi River.  Admission is free.

Logan’s Candies, Ontario

Logan’s Candies has been making their signature candy canes and chocolates by hand for over 75 years.  During the holidays, Logan’s Candies Candy Cane Demonstrations sell out fast.  So, they begin to accept requests for tours starting on August 1 through the mail.

Candy canes on Logan's Candies Tour in Ontario California

Mojave National PreserveBarstow

Located between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the Mojave National Preserve boasts of singing sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, and Joshua tree forests.

Mt. Baldy Visitors Center, Mt. Baldy

Located within the Angeles National Forest in scenic Mt. Baldy Village, the Mt. Baldy visitor center lies 10 miles north of Claremont.  The center is a historic 1920’s schoolhouse that has been renovated to include an indoor nature trail, local history room, and gift shop.  Mt. Baldy Environmental Education offers programs for every age and for every season.

The National Children’s Forest, Running Springs

This spectacular 3,400-acre area of forest is named for the trees planted there in the wake of the 1970 Bear Fire.  Each one bears the name of a child and is part of some of the most beautiful backcountry in the San Bernardino Mountains.  The mission of the Children’s Forest is to provide opportunities for youth to take a leadership role in forest management by giving them a legitimate voice in caring for our local mountains.  Through formal education and volunteer programs, they aim to evoke a fascination with nature that engenders a commitment to life-long learning and environmental stewardship.

North Etiwanda Preserve, Rancho Cucamonga

IERCD, in partnership with San Bernardino County Special Districts Department, offers free field trips to North Etiwanda Preserve in Rancho Cucamonga.  These field trips offer students the opportunity to learn and identify native plants and wildlife and explore the history of the previous settlers and indigenous tribes of the area.  The trip includes an educator-led nature walk and pre-hike activities to learn about NEP and its native habitat, wildlife, and history.

Oak Glen Schoolhouse, Oak Glen

The Oak Glen Schoolhouse is a very simple one-room schoolhouse with historical significance.   In the fall, when people are out apple picking in full force, the museum is open Wednesday – Sunday, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.   The rest of the year they are open on weekends only.  Groups tours are available by reservation only.

Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino

With over 150 airplanes on display, it is the Mission of Planes of Fame Air Museum to preserve aviation history, inspire interest in aviation, educate the public, and honor aviation pioneers and veterans.  The museum is an ideal location for field trips for public schools, scout organizations, and homeschool groups with its focus on aviation history and connection to aeronautics. The museum offers different types of visits structured to meet the needs of your group.

Ramona Bowl AmphitheatreHemet

Every year the Ramona Bowl hosts fourth graders throughout the San Jacinto Valley to a special performance of Ramona.  The Ramona Pageant highlights many of the fourth-grade social studies standards and has cowboys, fiesta, and Native American dancers.

Riley’s Apple Farm, Oak Glen

Riley’s Apple Farm is a u-pick apple, berry, and pumpkin farm with a wide variety of activities.  The farm hosts 1800s-themed farm tours, with activities including hayrides, archery, apple cider pressing, rope making, gold panning, kazoo making, frontier cabin adventure, and more.  They have several homeschool days per year.

Riley’s Farm, Oak Glen

Nestled in the apple growing foothills of historic Oak Glen, Riley’s Farm is a working apple orchard and living history farm featuring pick-your-own fruit, living history education, dinner theater, and extended and historically-themed overnight stays.  They offer year-round educational field trips for schools and homeschool groups including both Revolutionary War, Civil War, Gold Rush, Colonial Farm Life and Overnight Revolutionary War Adventures and an Old Jose Homestead Tour.

Airplane Museum in San Bernardino California

Riley’s Stone Soup Farm & Heritage Orchard, Oak Glen

Riley’s Stone Soup Farm & Heritage Orchard is a century old, family owned and operated vintage apple orchard.  The farm engages in preserving a heritage community through heirloom growing, educational programs and artisan culture.  They also host a few Homeschool Days per year where students can discover what life was like living on a late 19th-century farm.  The day includes pioneer cooking, apple tasting, candle dipping, wool carding & farm chores, cider pressing, historical toy making & games and a visit to the corn and pumpkin patch.

San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands

The San Bernardino County Museum is a regional museum with exhibits and collections in cultural and natural history.  Special exhibits, the Exploration Station live animal discovery center, extensive research collections, and public programs for adults, families, students, and children are all part of the museum experience.   You must have a minimum of 10 guests in order to receive a group rate

The Sawdust Factory, Uplands

The Sawdust Factory is a woodcraft shop where adults and children alike can create their very own woodcraft project.  With hundreds of projects to choose from and lots of personalization touches available, this DIY craft factory is the place to be.  The shop is organized in “stations” to help your project come to life.  Group field trips are available.

Southern California Rocket Association, San Bernardino County

The Model Rocket Club has a centrally located, legal, supervised and controlled model rocket launch site at Lucerne Dry Lake Bed in San Bernardino County.  They also conduct Model Rocket building and design classes for individuals, families and youth groups.

Splash KingdomRedlands

Splash Kingdom Waterpark is an Egyptian-beach themed water park, trampoline park, and concert venue.  They offer group discount rates.

The Wildlands Conservancy, Oak Glen

The Wildlands Conservancy offers quality outdoor education experiences with hands-on group activities for grades three through six.  One such program, The Outdoor Discovery Program, is a free 5-hour nature adventure field trip that takes place on a 2-mile nature trail on the Oak Glen Preserve.  The trail meanders through an evergreen forest, past ponds that host migratory ducks in winter, and under a canopy of a deciduous black oak forest that opens onto a south-facing chaparral hillside.  The return trail follows a willow shaded stream onto a boardwalk that is the home to a variety of butterflies when the wetlands are in bloom.

Victor Valley College Planetarium, Victor Valley

This planetarium has a regular schedule of shows open to the public for a small fee in the evenings.  All seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Seating is limited to 50 persons per show.  Reservations are not normally accepted, but groups of six or more may call in advance with their name, date of attendance, and size of their party.

Victor Valley Museum, Apple Valley

The Victor Valley Museum features exhibits on the natural history and culture of the high desert.  Geological and paleontological specimens, Native American artifacts, and historical objects that tell the story of the development of society and industry in the towns of the region.  Popular annual events include Insectival, Solar Oven Cook-off and Night at the Museum.

Widnall Museum of Contemporary Art, Rancho Cucamonga

The Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art is a teaching museum that cultivates direct engagement with works of art in an interdisciplinary space through the presentation of exhibitions, education, and community programming to visitors of all ages.  

The Museum staff is available for guided tours and will gladly assist you in the development of assignments that utilize their exhibitions through the initiative Ask Art: Using the Museum to Make Curricular Connections.

The Yorba-Slaughter Families Adobe, Chino

The Yorba-Slaughter Adobe, built in 1852-53, is one of the oldest standing adobe residences in San Bernardino County.  One of the fascinating aspects of this site is the presence of original furnishings from the 19th-century occupation of the Slaughter family.  The combination post office and general store contain an exhibit of agriculture and animal husbandry.  You can step inside to experience an 1890’s store complete with advertising and artifacts.

The Yucaipa Adobe, Yucaipa

The Yucaipa Adobe contains furnishings from the nineteenth century.  Horse-drawn farm implements are exhibited outside the adobe.  The exhibit was donated by the Haley and Melton families, early Yucaipa ranchers.  The Lions Club of Yucaipa moved the farm implements to the site and organized the exhibit, which also includes a blacksmith shop.  Open on the third Sunday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. for guided tours.

Happy Field Tripping!

Jilleen

More Places To Explore in the Inland Empire

Discover Arrowhead Pine Rose Cabins in Twin Peaks

Marla W

Tuesday 14th of July 2020

You forgot the California Botanic Garden in Claremont. Great place to walk & they are open early & late. https://www.calbg.org/

Attend Homeschool Day at BubblePOP in Tustin - SoCal Field Trips

Wednesday 15th of January 2020

[…] 45+ Student Field Trips in San Bernardino County […]

Ultimate List of Homeschool Days in Southern California - SoCal Field Trips

Friday 10th of August 2018

[…] 45+ Student Field Trips in San Bernardino County […]

Best Places To Explore in the Inland Empire - SoCal Field Trips

Monday 9th of April 2018

[…] Best Homeschool Field Trips in San Bernardino County […]

Insider Tips For Visiting Cabazon Dinosaurs Near Palm Springs - SoCal Field Trips

Monday 9th of April 2018

[…] Best Homeschool Field Trips in San Bernardino County […]