Field Trip Opportunities

Below, you will find a variety of field trip opportunities for the 2024-25 school year, presented by Tacoma Creates-supported organizations. Please click on an organization’s name to expand the section and see details on the field trips they are offering for this year.

TPS Teachers: Tacoma Creates funds will cover round-trip bus costs for approximately 200 field trips each year. This opportunity is open to classes serving all grade levels, pre-K through high school, at any Tacoma Public School, with a priority given to Title 1 schools. Field trips eligible for this transportation support include any during-the-school-day cultural programming offered by currently funded organizations within the City of Tacoma, including but not limited to the field trips listed on this page. You can access the request form for a Tacoma Creates-supported bus on the Staff Hub section of the TPS website. The form will ask for the Tacoma Creates organization producing the programming as well as the program name, date, location, grade levels participating, etc.

If you have any questions about field trips, contact us at tacomacreates@cityoftacoma.org.

Asia Pacific Cultural Center: K - 12th grade ⇩

  • $8.50 per student
  • $11 per chaperone
  • 1 class per field trip
  • Field trips groups to the APCC often stay during/after the presentation to enjoy/experience Asian and Pacific lunch and we offer cultural lessons at K-12 grades. The APCC field trip provides an opportunity for children to see artwork, artifacts, and cultural/art demonstrations at our Center.
  • There must be at least one chaperone assigned for each class and each field trip.

Buffalo Soldiers Museum: 5th, 8th, & 11th Grade ⇩

  • The Buffalo Soldiers Museum comprises of five rooms that chronicle 75 years of history outlining the historical events following the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, when Congress enacted laws allowing freed slaves to join the military. The tour begins with a concise introduction and video highlighting the origins of the Buffalo Soldiers. Progressing chronologically, the guided exploration through the museum reveals the dates, times, and events through 1944.

Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation: 6th - 12th grade ⇩

  • 15-20 Students per trip
  • 1:10 adult-to-student ratio
  • The park is wheelchair accessible.
  • For further information about the expulsion, the Chinese Reconciliation Park or the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation, please visit tacomamethod.com. The Chinese Reconciliation Project hopes to spread the message of reconciliation and cultural harmony through education. Our mission is to provide as much opportunity as we can to show cultural wealth can unify us all. As we continue to promote our message of inclusion and Harmony in diversity, we hope to partner with teachers/schools to encourage students to participate in the field trip.

Greentrike: Pre-K - 3rd grade ⇩

  • $50 for 15 people or fewer
  • $80 for 16-30 people
  • $110 for 31-45 people
  • Lunchroom use: $45 for up to 30 people for 30 minutes
  • A limited number of free scholarships available for the 24/25 school year
  • 45 student maximum
  • Weighted vests, noise cancelling headphones; if booking an Inclusive Group visit, we can limit the number of people in the space and modify sounds and light.
  • Basic Visits are scheduled in 1 (one) hour and 30-minute blocks. Reservations must be made 2 (two) weeks in advance.

Job Carr Cabin Museum: 3rd - 4th & 6th - 12 grade ⇩

  • 90 students per field trip
  • 1:50 Student-to-Adult ratio
  • ADA compliant
  • Gender-neutral restroom
  • Field trips groups to the Museum often stay after the presentation to enjoy lunch and recess in Old Town Park. Covered picnic tables are available. Explore nearby Chinese Reconciliation Park to learn more about the Chinese immigrants who built Tacoma's railroad and the expulsion of 1885. This park is a space to inspire hope, healing, and inclusivity.

LeMay - America's Car Museum: 3rd - 8th grade ⇩

  • $6.00 per student
  • $6.00 per additional adult outside of the 1:10 ratio
  • $3 for hands-on "add on" projects
  • 90 students per trip
  • 1:10 Adult-to-Student ratio
  • Tactile experiences for sight impaired; quiet spaces/private rooms can be reserved; ramps and elevators
  • Our guided tour highlights the history of the automobile and how safety features have changed and improved over the years.
  • STYLISH SPEED TOUR: Analyze the evolving design of a vehicle’s exterior body and what makes a car aerodynamic, safe, and fast.
  • POWERING THE FUTURE TOUR: Discover how automotive technology has advanced over time, and hypothesize the best way to power vehicles for a sustainable automotive future.
  • A NATION ON WHEELS TOUR: Learn how cars shaped American culture through the decades.
  • PRESCHOOL TOUR: Encourage curiosity and imagination with a condensed guided tour, playtime in the Family Zone, and storytime with a related hands-on activity. Preschool programs are geared to ages 3-5 and allow one free chaperone for every 5 students.
  • CUSTOMIZED TOUR: Work with us to create a program that meets your classroom’s learning objectives and students’ interests. Contact our education department for more details.

Northwest Sinfonietta: 6th - 12th grade ⇩

  • 500 students per field trip
  • 1:25 Adult-to-Student ratio
  • Wheelchair/limited mobility seating, assisted listening devices available upon request

Symphony Tacoma: 5th grade ⇩

  • Monday, April 21, 2025 - 10:00 am
  • Tuesday April 22, 2025 - 10:00 am & 11:30 am
  • Thursday April 24, 2025 - 10:00 am & 11:30 am
  • 1,200 students per field trip
  • In January, there will be one professional development session via zoom for teachers, the date is to be determined.

Tacoma Art Museum: Pre-K - 12th grade ⇩

  • Free for Tacoma Public School students
  • Outside of TPS: $10 per student / $7 per student for Title 1 schools
  • $5 per chaperone
  • We are wheelchair accessible. Please let us know your accessibility needs and we will accommodate as best we can!
  • Primary School - Minimum 1 adult per 5 students
  • Secondary School - Minimum 1 adult per 10 students
  • Please allow 3 weeks notice when scheduling visits! We use an inquiry based method called Visual Thinking Strategies, VTS, in our programs. VTS encourages critical thinking, builds community by allowing students to share different points of view, and gives space for students to build their voice and literacy skills.
  • TAM now offers classroom visits as an alternative to visiting TAM, tailored to curricular needs and in support of Washington State Learning Standards and Common Core.

Tacoma Arts Live: Pre-K - 12th grade ⇩

  • Advance Tickets (before November 1) - $7.00/per attendee
  • Regular Tickets - $8.00/per attendee
  • Tickets will need to be purchased for all attendees, students & adults.
  • All field trips are hosted at the Pantages Theater.
  • Between 900 - 950 students per trip, depending on the number of teachers & chaperones
  • The Pantages Theater is wheelchair accessible.

Tacoma Musical Playhouse: K - 8th grade ⇩

  • James and the Giant Peach: October 29 & 31, 2024
  • Elephant and Piggie's We're In a Play: January 21 & 23, 2025
  • $10 per student
  • $10 per adult
  • Up to 300 students per field trip
  • Recommended 1:20 student-to-adult ratio so adults can be scattered throughout the auditorium.
  • Study guides will be made available closer to show dates.

Tacoma Youth Symphony Association: 4th & 7th-12th grade ⇩

  • Thursday, March 20, 2025 - For Middle School
  • Friday, March 21, 2025 - For High School
  • Discover Music: Free
  • Symphonic Orchestra Festival: $225 with an additional fee of $3 per student

The Grand Cinema: Pre-K - 12th grade ⇩

  • For groups of 25 or less, we can host a tour of our projection booth and equipment (dependent on staff availability) at no addtional cost.
  • Up to 350 students per trip
  • Audio and visual devices, open captions (if available on disc), wheelchair accessible, and lights and volume can be adjusted.
  • We have been hosting TPS field trips for a long time and can be really creative on what works best for each individual teacher, classroom, or school.

Toolbox Laboratories: Pre-K - 12th grade ⇩

  • If you have a curriculum standard to meet we can engineer a project for your students. Give us a call so we can make a plan to meet your students' needs.
  • 40 students per field trip
  • Indoor space for lunch
  • 1 adult per 10 students required

Write253: 4th - 12th Grade ⇩