Field trips are undoubtedly one of the best parts of high school. One cannot possibly receive a proper education without having real-world experience, which can be missed when the educational opportunities are limited to a classroom. Field trips can broaden the educational experience, make a subject more important, and have been noted to increase critical thinking, historical empathy, and even display higher levels of tolerance, according to University of Arkansas. When attending trips, students are more observant and more open to detail. Field trips are needed in order to provide more opportunities and a better education for all students.

Field trips give students the chance to increase cognitive actions by exposing them to new environments and teaching methods. Art galleries and museums have been statistically proven to increase critical thinking by students. According to the University of Arkansas, students who attended field trips performed better than those who did not by 9% when comparing scores various of critical thinking tests.

Lectures and textbook pages are incapable of conveying the real life experience that is achieved by field trips because they help students to relate real life experiences with the material they are learning. Field trips can even motivate students to try harder with their studies; this can be done by introducing a student to a college or university campus and possibly inspiring the dream of higher education. Active learning also inspires students to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they are studying, promotes collaboration, and knowledge retention.

In recent years, many schools have decreased the amount of field trips taken per year. According to the American Association of School Administrators during years 2010-2011, more than half of the schools around the country had cancelled planned field trips. Due to the lack of field trips, students are not receiving important skills and information that the school curriculum does not cover. A trip to a science museum could inspire students to find a career in which they are interested in. A student’s education is received primarily in a classroom and their opportunities to explore the world are limited. This can make it difficult for a student to discover a topic in which they truly enjoy, however field trips give students the chance to have encounters with their unknown interest.

However, field trips can be expensive. A school bus and substitute teacher alone can cost over $700. Often times, schools find themselves lacking funds. However, field trips should not be the first to suffer because of this. The absence of field trips handicap the achievements of all students. It is difficult for schools to host more trips, but it is possible and beyond worth it. Many different fundraisers can be completed by students in order to earn enough money.
If field trips were more frequent, students would be able to explore different topics with greater depth, and connect information with real life situations enabling them to think more critically. A student may find that they are interested in new things that they have not been exposed to before, and are likely to be inspired to learn.