Calling all educators! Whether you are based in Albany, or located beyond New York State, Upstate New York attractions offer a variety of virtual field trips. Take advantage of these virtual offerings to switch up your lesson plans. Scroll on for a few local attractions hosting virtual field trips and tours.
Note: This blog was originally written during pandemic-era closures. Though these locations have reopened for in-person programming, students and teachers can still utilize these online resources.
New York State Museum
The New York State Museum offers a series of virtual programming exploring different exhibitions and subjects. Find a variety of Education Resources to build into your lesson plans including teacher guides, videos highlighting the museum's collections, and an online tour of the NYS Education building in 360 degrees.
Historic Cherry Hill
Learn about Historic Cherry Hill virtually with their Online Teacher Resources. This includes a 3D tour of the historic home, online collections, teaching units, and interactive educational programs.
USS Slater
The USS Slater DE766 offers virtual ways to explore and learn about the last Destroyer Escort afloat in the United States! Navigate each section of the ship on your own during an Online Tour or book a guided Virtual Tour. During the virtual tour, a tour guide will accompany you around the ship and explain each space, just like you are actually aboard! You'll see where sailors ate, slept, worked, and played while learning some history of World War II and the role of Destroyer Escorts. Your tour guide will be live during your tour (not taped ahead of time) so you can ask them any questions and focus on the information you are most interested in.
Call Shanna at 518-431-1943 or email at Schuster@ussslater.org for more information and to book your group virtual tour today! Available for a flat rate of $75.
Albany Pine Bush Preserve
Digitally explore the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, one of only twenty inland pine barrens left in the entire world, with a unique, virtual learning experience! Albany Pine Bush Preserve Educators offer live, interactive online learning experiences for a variety of grade levels. "Discover the Pine Bush" introduces students (at any grade level) to the geology, ecology, and unique diversity of life in the Pine Bush with a live hike streamed to your classroom. "Help a Habitat," best for 1st to 4th grades, includes a presentation on the endangered Karner blue butterfly, an interactive habitat game, and a Karner blue project. "Terrific Turtles," suitable for all grades, features a virtual meet-and-greet with one of the three turtles that call the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center home and dives into the natural history of local turtles.
Contact the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Lead Educator, Jacqueline Citriniti at jcitriniti@albanypinebush.org to register.
Albany Institute of History & Art
Visit the Albany Institute of History & Art with a virtual field trip! Programs are led by a museum educator who engages students with an interactive gallery presentation followed by a Question & Answer session. Available 45-minute live virtual programs include "Ancient Egypt: Art and Culture," "Art, Artists, & Nature: the Hudson River School," "Hudson River School STEAM: Art & the Environment," and "Traders & Culture: Life in Colonial Albany." Each program comes with post-visit materials to extend the lesson in the classroom.
Email Janine Moon, moonj@albanyinstitute.org to book your program. Virtual prerecorded field trips are also available for free, email Janine to request video links.
New York State Capitol & Empire State Plaza
The Office of General Services, Curatorial and Visitor Series offers various ways for students and teachers to learn about the Plaza and Capitol virtually. Tour Talks allow teachers and groups to reserve a "live" session with a tour guide for an enhanced and interactive experience. Teachers can choose (up to) three Virtual Visits and then set up a time to ask the tour guide live questions. Virtual Visits are short, educational tours of the Capitol, Empire State Plaza and Executive Mansion.
Click here to register for a Tour Talk today!
