General Guidelines
What follows is a set of general guidelines which apply to all Living History
& Natural History Field Trips conducted at Woodlawn Manor Park. Grade level, weather, and seasonal considerations are
factored in to help prepare teachers and parents to get ready for the day's learning activities. A careful reading of
relevant program descriptions will help provide useful information in planning.
Daily Time Frame
The field trip schedule is tied to the home school instructional day. Accordingly, visitors typically arrive at the
Woodlawn Manor by 10 a.m. In order to arrive back at school for afternoon departure, all students typically leave the Center
by 1 p.m. Programs for Grades 2-8 are presented from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the picnic area is available from 12:30
to 1 p.m. Programs for K-1 are presented from 10 a.m. to noon and the picnic area is available from noon to 12:30. Special
afternoon programs from 12:30 to 2:30 may be scheduled.
Lunches
Bagged
lunches and drinks must be labeled and will be stored on the bus or at the manor kitchen upon arrival then distributed when
it is time to eat lunch. Students typically dine at the Maple Tree Picnic Area or inside covered area in inclement weather.
Placing the lunches into cardboard boxes or large bags or similar containers labeled with teachers' names at the home
school assures a smooth redistribution process. Cleaning up leftover lunch trash and collecting recyclables is an important
part of the day. Here students can demonstrate respect for the natural and learning environments, as well as working together
as a community be recycling and composting. Clean up Mother Earth!
Clothing
Outdoor wear geared to seasonal and daily weather considerations should include comfortable shoes for hiking, and all clothing
should be suitable for active outdoor pursuits. Dress for the weather of the day and come prepared to be outside for some
of the program. Costumes for living history programs are strictly optional but add to the day!
Transportation
School buses, private buses, and parent-driven autos are the three chief means for getting
students to and from Woodlawn Manor. Ample free parking and bus turn-around available. Be sure your driver knows
your destination and route before leaving. Also, be sure to reserve your bus right away so
your field trip date will be honored even if a bus blackout occurs on your date.
Group Sizes
Overall size of a visiting group
may be the entire grade level for some programs or just one or two classes for others. Make group arrangements when
scheduling with the Director.
Rotational Grouping
Instructional groups
of approximately 10 to 22 students each (depending on the activity) should be designated at the home school in advance of
the field trip date. Students should be grouped heterogeneously with an adult leader identified and special support assigned
to meet the needs of individual students or to assist at a station as required for large student groups.
Classes generally divide into three or four
instructional groups depending upon the size of the entire group. Ideally, after an adult leader has been appointed to each
individual activity by the teacher, additional adult chaperones are assigned to assist at each activity site. This provides
instructional and logistical continuity throughout the program. Once the classes are put into the rotation, the Director usually
has the responsibility for teaching a core or hub activity. One or two docents are usually available for centers.
It is left for the visiting teachers and parents to present instruction and supervision at the other rotational learning centers
where materials and instructions are provided.
Admission Fees
Admission
fees vary according to the type of programs requested and grade level. Title 1 School discounts are available.
Fee arrangements may be made with the Director by emailing: WoodlawnManorMuseum@comcast.net
or by calling Woodlawn message
machine at: 301.570.5722.
General admission is $6.50
per student with teachers free and one free chaperone per class... and free
parking. Other adults are very welcome and the fee is $4.50. each.The check is due
on arrival and should be made out to: Woodlawn Manor Museum
What About
Weather?
Inclement weather of the kind that would make a field trip unsafe or instructionally inoperative and
which may be foretold in advance will force a cancellation or rescheduling of that day's events. Cancelations will be
initiated by the home school with advice and consultation from the Director who will attempt to set a new date for the trip.
Call for assistance with inclement weather decisions up to 5 pm the evening prior or
after 6 am the morning of your field trip.
Environmental / Museum Decorum
The Woodlawn Manor
Living History Museum is devoted to teaching respect for history and nature to students of all ages. The recreational aspect
of an outdoor field trip setting must be clearly subordinated to the instructional objectives of the experience. Moreover,
students should be coached in the lessons of environmental education inquiry and taught respect and love for our "shared"
natural world. Visitors to the Woodlawn Manor settings should understand that the freedom implicit in a trip to the outdoors
must be accompanied by responsibility to preserve and protect plant life, animal habitats, and the man-made structures that
comprise the "outdoor classroom".
Take only memories, leave only footprints.
Remember your museum manners please!
Thanks for helping with Hands-On-History.
