SPree Field Trips
SPREE is pleased to announce that we will be running in-person programs in the 2021-2022 school year!
SPREE offers unique opportunities for students to connect with the great outdoors right in the city. Educational field trips are offered throughout the school year. Three grade-specific excursions are provided for students in ECE through 5th grade. These hands-on experiences introduce students to the River through fun and engaging activities that teach science, history, and the importance of the River to the city and its residents.
Understanding the current complexities and changing realities of the classroom, field trips this year take place in your schoolyard.
In the spring, we are hoping to offer in-person field trips at our regular parks (Original Trips), in addition to the modified field trips in your schoolyard. If your class has the capability to travel to one of the 7 parks where we typically run SPREE field trips, you will be able to sign up for a normal, pre-pandemic field trip in the spring. However, we have designed our field trips for 2021-2022 to run at your school, so you don't have to worry about transportation or other more complicated logistics.
SPREE's award winning excursions are designed in line with the Colorado State Standards for education and the NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education. We can also offer custom excursions for 6-12th grade groups, scout troops, and other groups. For more information on custom excursions, please contact excursions@greenwayfoundation.org.
SPREE offers unique opportunities for students to connect with the great outdoors right in the city. Educational field trips are offered throughout the school year. Three grade-specific excursions are provided for students in ECE through 5th grade. These hands-on experiences introduce students to the River through fun and engaging activities that teach science, history, and the importance of the River to the city and its residents.
Understanding the current complexities and changing realities of the classroom, field trips this year take place in your schoolyard.
In the spring, we are hoping to offer in-person field trips at our regular parks (Original Trips), in addition to the modified field trips in your schoolyard. If your class has the capability to travel to one of the 7 parks where we typically run SPREE field trips, you will be able to sign up for a normal, pre-pandemic field trip in the spring. However, we have designed our field trips for 2021-2022 to run at your school, so you don't have to worry about transportation or other more complicated logistics.
SPREE's award winning excursions are designed in line with the Colorado State Standards for education and the NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education. We can also offer custom excursions for 6-12th grade groups, scout troops, and other groups. For more information on custom excursions, please contact excursions@greenwayfoundation.org.
Three Trip Themes to Choose from
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ANIMAL ADVENTURE
ECE - 1st Grade This excursion focuses on animals and their habitats. Students will learn about the resources all animals need, build an animal shelter, use clues to solve animal mysteries, see animal pelts and skulls, and go on a nature hike searching for signs of animals.
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ROCK REVOLUTION
2nd - 3rd Grade This excursion is an exploration of the history of Denver through rocks. Students will learn about the rock cycle, discover how Native Americans used rocks, and how rocks (gold!) lead to Denver being the bustling pioneer town it was.
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BLAST FROM THE PAST
4th - 5th Grade This excursion explores life in Colorado from the days of Arapahoe and Cheyenne roaming the plains to the gold rush days of mining to the pioneer days journeying west.
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FAQs
Where will trips take place?
Understanding the current complexities and changing realities of the classroom, field trips this year take place in your schoolyard, or in a nearby public park.
If your class has the capability to travel to one of the 7 parks where we typically run SPREE field trips, you can still sign up for a normal, pre-pandemic field trip. However, we have designed our field trips for 2021-2022 to run at your school, so you don't have to worry about transportation or other more complicated logistics.
If your class has the capability to travel to one of the 7 parks where we typically run SPREE field trips, you can still sign up for a normal, pre-pandemic field trip. However, we have designed our field trips for 2021-2022 to run at your school, so you don't have to worry about transportation or other more complicated logistics.
Which trip do I sign up for?
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ANIMAL ADVENTURE
ECE - 1st Grade This excursion focuses on animals and their habitats. Students will learn about the resources all animals need, build an animal shelter, use clues to solve animal mysteries, see animal pelts and skulls, and go on a nature hike searching for signs of animals.
|
ROCK REVOLUTION
2nd - 3rd Grade This excursion is an exploration of the history of Denver through rocks. Students will learn about the rock cycle, discover how Native Americans used rocks, and how rocks (gold!) lead to Denver being the bustling pioneer town it was.
|
BLAST FROM THE PAST
4th - 5th Grade This excursion explores life in Colorado from the days of Arapahoe and Cheyenne roaming the plains to the gold rush days of mining to the pioneer days journeying west.
|
Field Trip Structure
SPREE staff will arrive at our field trip location at 8:15am for set up. Trips will run from 9:00am - 11:00am.
There is also an option to sign up two sessions at your school in the same day. The second session will run from 11:30am - 1:30pm, in the same location as the morning session. Staff will leave by 2:00pm. If you are signing up for both morning and afternoon sessions, they must be for the same school & the same field trip grade level.
There is also an option to sign up two sessions at your school in the same day. The second session will run from 11:30am - 1:30pm, in the same location as the morning session. Staff will leave by 2:00pm. If you are signing up for both morning and afternoon sessions, they must be for the same school & the same field trip grade level.
The rough schedule for each field trip is as follows:
9:00-9:15 - intro
9:15-10:15 - 3 activity rotations
10:15-10:45 - large group activity
10:45-11:00 - wrap up
What is the class/student capacity for each trip & Session?
Each trip has a capacity of 45 students. That means a maximum of 45 students can participate in the morning session (9am-11am) and 45 students can participate in the afternoon session (11:30am-1:30pm).
How do I register my class?
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Standard pricing for a SPREE Excursion is $10/child. The actual cost for making SPREE Excursions possible is approximately $41 per child. The Greenway Foundation actively pursues funding through grants, gifts, and donations (both corporate and individual) to make SPREE programs possible.
Additional funding that reduces the excursion fee is available for specific schools, specific school districts, or schools that meet certain requirements. These funds are not guaranteed from year to year. If you would like to find out if your school would qualify for any additional funding to decrease the fee, please use our scholarship request form here.
Excursion booking is done through our online registration system. The fee for the excursion is specific to your school, and so it is not included on the registration form. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL BE A FEE FOR YOUR SPREE EXCURSION. The only exceptions are for SPREE SCHOOLS (see below) with 88% or more students qualifying for free or reduced price school lunches, or those that are located in Denver's Westwood neighborhood. Invoices for each excursion will be sent to the teacher that registered for the trip.
Additional funding that reduces the excursion fee is available for specific schools, specific school districts, or schools that meet certain requirements. These funds are not guaranteed from year to year. If you would like to find out if your school would qualify for any additional funding to decrease the fee, please use our scholarship request form here.
Excursion booking is done through our online registration system. The fee for the excursion is specific to your school, and so it is not included on the registration form. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL BE A FEE FOR YOUR SPREE EXCURSION. The only exceptions are for SPREE SCHOOLS (see below) with 88% or more students qualifying for free or reduced price school lunches, or those that are located in Denver's Westwood neighborhood. Invoices for each excursion will be sent to the teacher that registered for the trip.
WHAT IS A SPREE SCHOOL?
A SPREE School is a school that has adopted SPREE across all grade levels. Our program evaluation has shown that the impact of nature based experiences is greater through multiple exposures across time to the same resource. Schools where kids engage in high quality environmental education across multiple grades and in various venues (excursions, weekend family events, summer camps, after school clubs, and at home) are more successful in creating children who are critical thinkers, effective problem solvers, and have the knowledge and skills to be environmentally responsible decision makers. Because of this, we give certain "perks" to schools who are committed to the program as a SPREE School. Those perks include:
How does my school become a SPREE School? Fill out the information form here and we will contact you about next steps for your school to become a SPREE School.
- Priority Registration - SPREE Schools are allowed to register early before the calendar opens to other schools
- Premium Pricing - Through the fundraising efforts of The Greenway Foundation, SPREE Schools enjoy the lowest fee/student available for SPREE excursions.
- Staff Support - SPREE offers professional development training for teachers at SPREE Schools upon request and supports teachers in the classroom with planning and implementation of river related projects.
- Weekend Events - Students attending SPREE Schools are offered priority registration for SPREE weekend events.
- First opportunity for new programming - When SPREE offers new programs like after school clubs, SPREE Schools get the first chance at registration.
How does my school become a SPREE School? Fill out the information form here and we will contact you about next steps for your school to become a SPREE School.
Teacher Testimonials
“The staff was great and not only informative, but also supportive."
-5th Grade Teacher (2021)
“SPREE instructor & activities were awesome! Thank you for all you do!”
-5th Grade Teacher (2021)
-5th Grade Teacher (2021)
“SPREE instructor & activities were awesome! Thank you for all you do!”
-5th Grade Teacher (2021)