Spring Grade School Field Trips

Field Trip Activities

Students rotate through four activity sessions throughout the day, each led by Lake Hopatcong Foundation staff and volunteers.

• Floating Classroom: Students board the Floating Classroom for hands-on lessons in lake ecology and water quality. They test key water variables such as clarity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. Additionally, they explore the aquatic food web and observe microscopic invertebrates (plankton) up close using digital microscopes.
  • Fulfills New Jersey Student Learning Standards: (3-ESS3-1) (5-LS2-1) (MS-ESS2-4)
     
• Musconetcong River Sampling: Students wade into the Musconetcong River to study aquatic macroinvertebrates and their role in assessing water quality. Outfitted with knee-high waders, they experience firsthand the excitement and wonder of exploring nature.
  • Fulfills New Jersey Student Learning Standards: (3-LS4-3) (3-LS4-4) (MS-LS2-3)
     
• Discovery Hike: Students learn about Earth's limited water supply, the small fraction that is fresh water, and why protecting these resources is crucial. Through a hands-on activity, they gain a deeper understanding of just how precious fresh water is.
  • Fulfills New Jersey Student Learning Standards: (2.1.5.CHSS.2) (MS-ESS2-4)
     
• EnviroScape Model: Students explore watersheds and water conservation through a tabletop watershed model. Using "polluting" markers, they see how pollutants flow into rivers, lakes, and oceans, and learn how they can help reduce pollution’s impact on our environment.
  • Fulfills New Jersey Student Learning Standards: (4-ESS3-2) (5-ESS2-1) (MS-ESS2-4)

“The trip was amazing. My class had a great day and learned a lot. Very well organized and I appreciated all safety measures taken for the water activities” - Mendham Township Elementary School, Brookside  
 

2025 Field Trips 

Field trips are held rain or shine from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm from late April to mid-June at Hopatcong State Park in Landing, NJ. Groups of up to 140 participants, including teachers, chaperones, and aides, can be accommodated each day. Schools with fewer than 105 participants may be scheduled alongside other schools to fill the day, though each activity session will contain students from only one school. 

Pricing for 2025 is $20 per person.  
 

“In many teachers' opinion, a trip has to have some simple parameters to be successful. They include but are not limited to educational value, proximity, structure and lack of downtime. This trip checks all of the boxes.” - Academy Street Elementary School, Dover  
 

Field Trip Inquiry  

If you're interested in participating in our 2025 spring field trip program for grades four through six, please complete the form below in its entirety and review all instructions carefully. Students in grades other than 4, 5, and 6 will be considered on a case-by-case basis but are welcome to inquire. A staff member will contact you by email to coordinate details.