Field Trips

In-Person Field Trips

First in War Exhibit

45 mins (Grades 4-12)
Walk in the boot steps of America’s 1st Infantry Division as they fought in WWI, WWII and Vietnam. This docent-led tour will share stories about how teamwork and technology helped our soldiers accomplish their missions. The program content varies per grade level.

• Illinois Social Science Standards related to history appropriate to each grade level. Disciplinary concepts: change, continuity and context; perspectives; and causation and argumentation

Teacher Takeover – 45 mins
Reserve a time slot for your class to take over the First in War exhibit. Your students can explore WWI, WWII and Vietnam at their own pace. This is your chance to create a custom experience in our galleries.

Outdoor D-Day Exhibit

Available through 2025
30 mins (Grades 4-12)
A lifetime can be lived or lost in 300 yards, and then there are the miles beyond.

Nothing But Victory, the Outdoor D-Day exhibit, takes students on an immersive journey through the events of June 6th, 1944. The exhibit features artistic renditions of tank traps, landing craft, and hedgerows, allowing students to follow in the footsteps of soldiers who crossed Omaha Beach. This experiential exhibit highlights the stories of individual U.S. soldiers and explores the technology and strategies of both the Allied and German forces, providing a vivid and engaging learning experience.

The Agents of Discovery game enhances this exhibit by offering an interactive and educational adventure. In just 30 minutes, the game brings history to life, encouraging students to engage with the exhibit’s content actively. By completing missions and challenges, students will gain a deeper understanding of the people and technology involved in the D-Day invasion, making it an unforgettable and impactful field trip experience. We will supply and collect the devices for students to play the game anonymously as guests. Learn more at Agents of Discovery.

Self-Guided Duty First Exhibit

30 mins (Grades 4-12)
Use the exhibit as a source for inquiry research. In this self-guided experience, students will explore missions related to battle, counterinsurgency, peacekeeping, military assistance, and deterrence. Spark a conversation: What can the modern military do? What should it do?

Soldier story pods with male and female soldiers from a variety of ethnic backgrounds talk about the missions they went on and how they felt about their service.

The tank battle recreation allows students to see a mission from the soldiers’ perspective. Sit in a Blackhawk helicopter model and explore the different jobs it does in the military.

The civic engagement interactive allows students to delve deeply into the decision-making process about when and where to deploy our military.

Artifacts tell a story about the tools used and the exhibit text provides context. Additional research and a debrief can be done in the classroom.

• This field trip offers an opportunity to work on Illinois Social Science Standards related to inquiry skills
• Illinois Social Science Standards related to history; specifically, change, continuity and context; perspectives; and causation and argumentation

Tank Tech (Outdoor program in the Tank Park)

45 mins (Grades 4-12)
From WWI to present day, the technology of tanks is constantly evolving. This unique program allows students to have fun while learning about the tanks. This experience includes a short tour of the Tank Park paired with games and activities to facilitate student learning about these incredible titans of technology. We will run this outdoor program as long as there is no lightning. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear!

• Illinois Social Science Standards related to history; specifically change, continuity and context; and causation and argumentation

Capacity
Capacity for all programs is 10 min and 50 max including chaperones; unless otherwise noted. We require 1 adult for every 10 students.