Experience the joy of learning outside of the classroom! Thanksgiving Point offers a wide range of field trip options for all students. Our field trips are designed with the Utah State Core Curriculum in mind and focus on inquiry-based science exploration. For even more interaction, pair your trip with a visit to the Mammoth Screen Theatre for an educational film presented in 3D.
field trips
at museum of ancient life
A field trip at the Museum of Ancient Life offers a way for students to see, touch, and interact with real prehistoric fossils from around the world. Learning about ancient life has never been so engaging!
field trips
at Museum of natural curiosity
The Museum of Natural Curiosity offers over 400 interactive experiences for students to learn about science, engineering, and the natural world. Curious minds are encouraged and exploration is inevitable in this unique venue!
field trips
at Butterfly Biosphere
A Butterfly Biosphere field trip offers students the chance to get an up-close and personal view of insect life. Field trips in this venue include a Thanksgiving Point facilitator who will accompany classes through the museum, educating students on the large array of critters on display.
field trips
at farm country
Learn all about food production, animal science, and more during a field trip at Farm Country. This amazing opportunity brings the farm to life. You can even meet your favorite farm animals, like cows, goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, horses, and more!
field trips
at ashton gardens
A field trip at Ashton Gardens educates students all about the world of gardening. Learn about caring for plants, protecting the environment, and more in this beautiful, 50-acre green space.
virtual field trips
Bring the wonder of the natural world to life right in your own classroom! Thanksgiving Point offers virtual field trips, providing a unique learning experience for students in grades K-12.
Although the venues at Thanksgiving Point offer a wide variety of activities, we encourage all teachers to come on a field trip with a purpose for their students to learn something new. Please view the following resources to help prepare for your field trip:
- Field Trip policy available HERE
Download the following maps for driving directions to our five venues:
If you are coming BY BUS
Please stay on the bus. A Thanksgiving Point Team Member will come on board and provide instructions for the students.
- A team member will escort the main teacher inside to complete the check-in process and complete the final payment. (Same as individual cars)
If you are coming in INDIVIDUAL CARS
- Please have your group gather outside the main entrance of the venue
- One staff will escort the main teacher inside to complete the check-in with final numbers of students and adults for final payment
- One staff will stay to give information and distribute wrist-bands before being admitted to the venue.
The 50% deposit must be paid by a date determined by the Education Department. A receipt is sent via email with the field trip confirmation and the contract.
- The remaining balance must be paid on the day of the field trip at the venue and will be based on the actual number of students (and adults for Discovery Field Trips).
- Early payments on the remaining balance are not accepted. The final payment must be paid on the day of the field trip at the venue.
- Deposits can be paid for with cash, a credit card (via phone), or with a check from the school
- A receipt for the deposit will be sent to the teacher (& school secretary) via email with the field trip contract document
- A $20 processing fee applies to all refunds.
- Ratio Requirements are as follows for all field trips:
- PK-6 Grade: 1:4 ratio
- 7-8 Grade: 1:10 ratio
- 9-12 Grade: 1:10 ratio
- CEE Field Trips: 1:10 ratio
- Mammoth Movie Theater: one free adult per class
- Special Needs students: up to a 1:1 ratio if needed with prior notice
- Groups that arrive without the required ratio will jeopardize their admission to the venue.
- Extra chaperones beyond the ratio requirement for Explorer, Explorer Plus, and CEE Field Trips will be charged $6 per person (must be paid in a single transaction).
- Chaperones are expected to supervise and engage with the students at all times during the field trip.
- You may select the Explorer field trip rate under High School
- $4 per preschool student and high school student
- One free adult per class
- All other policies apply
Home School and Online School Days are back! Visit our venues on designated days and receive a special admission price.
LEARN MORE
We can allow up to a 1:1 ratio for adults (free) to special needs students with prior notice (include in Notes on request form or call 801-768-4971).
Field Trip Scholarships
Thanks to generous donors and funds received from the Utah State Office of Educators Informal Science Education Enhancement (iSEE), Thanksgiving Point can extend scholarships to public schools and public charter schools to visit one Thanksgiving Point venue (once per school year, per grade) while scholarship funding is available. Scholarship funding is not available for private or non-Utah schools, or for buses.
- Title 1 Schools
- Title 1 Scholarship Available for grades K-12 (limited funding; first-come, first-serve)
- Available only for field trips scheduled to occur between September and March
- Field Trips to Farm Country and Ashton Gardens are the only exceptions for scholarships applied in April or May
- Not available for field trips scheduled to occur between April and August
- Covers admission costs for students and adults within the ratio requirement. Additional adults will be charged $6 each and must be paid for in one transaction on the day of the field trip.
- Scholarship Request Form must be submitted with a Field Trip Request Form; scholarship funding cannot be reserved without a scheduled field trip
- iSEE Scholarship
- Available to all public and charter schools for grades K-12 (limited funding; first-come, first-serve)
- Available only for field trips scheduled to occur between September and March
- Field Trips to Ashton Gardens for Tulips Journey North 3rd Grade Outreach are the only exceptions for scholarships applied in April or May
- Not available for field trips scheduled to occur between April and August
- Covers admission costs for students and adults within the ratio requirement. Additional adults will be charged $6 each and must be paid for in one transaction on the day of the field trip.
- Scholarship Request Form must be submitted with a Field Trip Request Form; scholarship funding cannot be reserved without a scheduled field trip
- Utah County Scholarship
- Available only to the following:
- 5th Grade in Nebo District
- 2nd Grade in Provo District
- 3rd Grade in Alpine District
- Available only for an Explorer Field Trip on a Wednesday to the Museum of Natural Curiosity or the Butterfly Biosphere.
- Available for field trips scheduled between September – May.
- Covers admission cost for students. Adults free within ratio requirement, including teachers.
Apply for a scholarship
Thanksgiving Point does not have any official place for large groups to eat lunch.
- Public parks near Thanksgiving Point are a good alternative to eating on property. These areas have table, pavilions and playgrounds. Here are some local parks you might want to look into:
- Olympic Park – 2650 W Parkside Dr, Lehi
- Greens Park – 1832 W 1600 N St, Lehi
- Bandwagon Park – 900 N 300 W, Lehi
- Bluffdale Lions Park – 14400 S, Bluffdale
- The cafes and restaurants cannot accommodate field trip groups.
- If you do choose to eat on property, please bring garbage bags to throw your trash away and then ask a staff member where dumpsters are located.
- Butterfly Biosphere Field Trip lunch area:
- Schools are welcome to eat in the open area behind the Butterfly Biosphere.
- Schools may eat lunch in the amphitheater behind the Butterfly Biosphere (in the Brick Canvas area).
- Bring your own trash bags and clean up thoroughly.
- Ask staff for locations of dumpsters.
- Museum of Ancient Life Field Trip lunch area:
- There is a cement area out front of the museum or a grassy tree area down by the big red barn that could work for eating lunches.
- You may eat on the second-floor mezzanine area of the lobby of the museum with prior notice BUT you must eat on the floor in the area with the mural paintings and NOT in the walk space by the elevator, restrooms, or doors to our department office.
- Please bring your own trash bags and clean up thoroughly.
- Farm Country Field Trip lunch area:
- There is not enough space or enough trash cans in Farm Country to accommodate large groups for lunch.
- Field trips are welcome to eat their lunch in the open field area across the street from the main entrance or other open areas around Farm Country.
- Bring your own trash bags. Ask staff the location of the dumpster to dispose of trash.
- Do not feed the animals your lunch food.
- There is no place to eat indoors.
- Museum of Natural Curiosity Field Trip lunch area:
- There is NO place to eat inside the Museum or the Discovery Garden.
- There is NO food allowed in the Museum or the Discovery Garden
- Please do not try to eat in the lobby. You will be asked to relocate.
- There are a few picnic tables and a grassy area across the parking lot of the Museum which schools may use
- Bring your own trash bags and clean up thoroughly.
- Ask staff for location of dumpsters
- Ashton Gardens Field Trip lunch area:
- Schools are welcome to eat on the large lawn area in front of the entrance of the main building.
- There is no space to store lunches
- The dumpsters are located on the west end of the Greenhouse (ask staff for location if needed)
Educator Newsletter
Join the Thanksgiving Point Educator Community! Learn about professional development programs offered by Thanksgiving Point by signing up for the Educator Email newsletters, designed just for educators!
SIGN UP