“Look at that goat!” “This place is a museum?? It feels more like an amusement park!!” “Thank you for making this the best field trip ever!”
These are just a few of the sentiments that our staff hear daily interacting with students who come to Conner Prairie with their school.
Field trips are a beloved part of the school experience, and for good reason. Research shows they can boost test scores and engagement. But at Conner Prairie, learning goes beyond memorizing facts or mastering a standard. Here, students step out of the everyday classroom and into a 1,000-acre playground.
Here, students follow their own interests, learn at their own pace, discover new passions—and have fun along the way.
A field trip to Conner Prairie is a chance to see animals you’ve only read about, smell the smoke from a wood-burning fire, watch an character bring history to life, or feel the weight of a hatchet before throwing it.
All of this is learning—not traditional, textbook learning, but powerful, hands-on education.
None of this would be possible without generous supporters of our mission like OneAmerica Financial, a company that deeply values community and education.
“Getting more urban youth and families onto the grounds of Conner Prairie is really opening the door for exploration, understanding, and new beginnings,” said DeNiece Harrison-Hudson, Director of Community Affairs.
OneAmerica Financial views their investment in field trips as more than a donation: “it is a strategic and mission-driven decision,” DeNiece shared, “By nurturing learning we hope to empower individuals to take charge of their futures, strengthen the economic fabric of communities, and reduce long-standing disparities.”
Research indicates that when learning is child-led, as we encourage, children practice decision-making skills, use their creativity and imagination to problem solve, and build their cognitive strength.
Field trips at Conner Prairie give students a fun day outside of the classroom—no doubt about it. But more than that, thanks to support from donors like OneAmerica, field trips at Conner Prairie lay the groundwork for children to grow into adults who approach the world with curiosity and who are capable, creative, and full of potential.
Learn more about how you, too, can support Conner Prairie’s mission through our Annual Impact Fund, which makes possible the many activities, exhibits, and educational experiences that take place at Conner Prairie.