As the mom of a family that loves to learn, I was more than ready to say, “Yes!” when the Iowa State Fair contacted me about partnering with them to help promote their field trips. We love to experience the Fair every summer, and doing so more purposefully this year with a little help from the Fair’s field trip program sounds like a perfect way to engage in some end-of-summer fun and learning together with my kids.
About the Iowa State Fair Field Trip Program
Aside from the lessons and memories I’m sure we’ll glean from the field trip experience, the best part of the Fair’s field trip program seems to be the field trip guide. The guide, included free of charge with field trip registration, lists more than 30 kid-friendly, educational opportunities around the fairgrounds—and not only that, but it also features two “learning loops,” half-day itineraries to help guide you to and through specific Fair destinations. The Kids’ Zone Loop, made up of interactive learning opportunities around the Fair, is perfect for kids ages 2-10, while the Animals & Agriculture Loop is suited to all ages.
Parents, educators, and daycare providers will also appreciate the 13 State Fair-tailored lesson plans (3 of which are new to the 2014 guide) and corresponding worksheets included in the field trip guide.
But the guide isn’t the only perk associated with the field trip program. Also included with field trip registration are the following benefits:
- Discounted admission to Fair attractions
- Bus drop-off and pick-up located at Gate #16
- Free bus parking
- Box lunch options
- Free student safety stickers
For more information on these program benefits and details on booking your field trip, click here.
Planning My Iowa State Fair Field Trip
When I received my 2014 Iowa State Fair field trip guide in the mail a few days ago, as you will too when you register for the field trip program, my excitement for the Fair was taken up a notch. The feel-good spirit of my country-livin’, horse-ridin’, livestock-raisin’ childhood comes back to me every year at this time, and though I’m raising my “city kids” in the Des Moines metro and loving every minute of it, I don’t want them to be ignorant of the animals and agriculture that are a big part of both who I am and what our state is all about.
That’s why my Fair field trip plans will likely include a trip around the Animals & Agriculture Loop, with learning stops at the Horse Haven, the Pig Place, the Cattle Corner, and more.
Homeschool Day at the Fair
While the Fair’s field trip program lasts the duration of the Fair and is aimed at schools, daycares, homeschool groups, and individual families alike, Homeschool Day at the Fair offers a special experience specific to homeschoolers. New to the Fair in 2014, Homeschool Day, to be held Monday, August 11, will feature pre-scheduled education extras and a lunch meet-up where homeschoolers can connect with current homeschool friends and make new ones.
To receive a Homeschool Day schedule and participate in its special, one-day-only programming, simply send your completed field trip reservation form to the address listed on the form, and wait to receive your packet in the mail!
The Giveaway
Get ready for some family fun! The Iowa State Fair is giving me a free Iowa State Fair field trip package (in exchange for this post), and they’re giving TWO of you the same!
Two lucky winners will each receive a field trip package consisting of the following:
- 6 admission tickets
- $40 in food tickets
- 6 Ye Old Mill rides
- 1 Iowa State Fair Cookbook (with nearly 500 award-winning recipes)
Enter to win below! The contest begins Thursday, July 10, 2014, at 11:00 p.m., and ends Saturday, July 18, 2014, at 11:00 p.m. (CST).
