Field Trips

Overview

Camp Susque offers field trips for schools and summer camp groups year round. Our beautiful grounds, caring staff, and engaging outdoor activities make for a truly memorable trip for your students! We offer trips for PreK through 12th grade, and will work with you to provide a field trip experience that engages your students and meets your needs.

We offer many activity classes for field trip groups that are hands-on, active, and exciting! You can design your own field trip using our activities listed by grade level, or select one of our Field Trip Packages. Field trips at Camp Susque are easily customized to fit with your schedule, and we will work with you to include the activities and lessons you want your students to walk away with.

Schoolchildren study aquatic ecology in the creek at Camp Susque's Field Trips.
Aquatic Ecology Field Trip photo
Schoolchildren explore nature at Camp Susque's Field Trips.

Sample Schedule

Below is a sample schedule of a typical field trip day at Camp Susque. However, all of these times are flexible to meet your needs!

9:30 Arrive at Camp Susque
9:45-10:45 First Activity
10:45-11:45 Second Activity
11:45-12:15

Lunch

During the school year: Access to our playground, basketball court, and giant sandbox

Optional year-round: Campfire with s’mores!

12:15-1:15 Third Activity
1:30 Departure from Camp

 

OUR HIKES (All ages)

Classic Hike:  Experience the breathtaking landscapes and sounds of mountains, forests, fields, watersheds & wildlife. $3/student

Naturalist Hike:  Explore nature by using all five senses during this guided hike for a sensory-rich outdoor experience. $3/student

Tree ID Hike:  Embark on a journey to identify and distinguish various tree species in their natural surroundings. $3/student

Habitat Hike: Discover various habitats, fostering curiosity and appreciation for diverse ecosystems and wildlife. $3/student

ART IN NATURE

Color Craft:  Discover a rainbow of pigments in nature and create a colorful momento to take home. $3/student

Environmental Art:  Design patterns, sequencing and sculptures using creativity with elements found in nature. $3/student

Imaginative Play:  Experiment with natural elements while engaging in role-play and hands-on activities. $3/student

SCIENCE CLASSES

Aquatic Ecology: Explore pond and/or creek ecosystems, identifying macroinvertebrates, amphibians and more in this immersive adventure. $3/student

Pennsylvania Forestry:  Delve into PA woodland history and basic tree identification. Take home a personal tree guide! $4/student

Ecology 101: Investigate energy and nutrient flow in ecosystems through engaging games and activities. $3/student

Ecosystem Studies: Examine the roles of various organisms and the movement of energy and nutrients within local ecosystems. $3/student

SPECIALTY SCIENCE

Animal Tracking:  Identify various common animal tracks and make your own plaster track to take home. $5/student

Water Quality Investigation:  Master water testing for quality indicators in Susque’s pond and Lycoming Creek. $4/student

Owl Pellet Dissection:  Uncover owl diets and food webs by dissecting real owl pellets. $6/student

TEAMWORK

Field Games:  Infuse energy and fun in our organized games that teach vital life skills like cooperation, communication, and teamwork. $3/student

Low Ropes Course:  Develop teamwork skills on our low ropes challenge course, requiring problem-solving and good communication. $4/student

OUTDOOR LIVING

Campfire Cooking:  Discover the art of building a fire and create a delicious snack to cook over the campfire. $5/student

Wilderness Skills: Acquire essential outdoor skills, such as fire-building, shelter construction, and more! $4/student

OUTDOOR SKILLS

Archery: Master the art of shooting a bow and arrow at Susque’s archery range through expert guidance. $5/student

Climbing Wall: Challenge yourself by conquering Susque’s 30-foot climbing wall and stepping outside your comfort zone. $5/student

Field Trip Packages

If you would like some help choosing activity classes for your field trip, look through some of our curated options below, organized by grade level:

PreK-3rd Grade:

The Classic: $9/student

Aquatic Ecology: Learn about the ecology of a pond or creek and identify the creatures (big and small!) who live there. $3/student

Animal Tracking: Learn to identify various common animal tracks, as well as make a plaster track to take home! $3/student

Nature Exploration Hike: Get moving while enjoying the beautiful scenery and sounds of mountains, fields, ponds, wildlife, and Lycoming Creek. $3/student

 

Something for Everyone: $9/student

Field Games: Organized games that teach life skills such as cooperation, communication, and teamwork, all while keeping students active and having fun! $3/student

Aquatic Ecology: Learn about the ecology of a pond or creek and identify the creatures (big and small!) who live there. $3/student

Nature Craft: Investigate the natural world while completing a craft to take home! $3/student

 

3rd-6th Grades:

Team Builder: $10/student

Nature Exploration Hike: Get moving while enjoying the beautiful scenery and sounds of mountains, fields, ponds, wildlife, and Lycoming Creek. $3/student

Teamwork Adventure: Learn and practice teamwork skills through interactive games, problem-solving activities, and the elements on our low ropes challenge course. $4/student

Field Games: Organized games that teach life skills such as cooperation, communication, and teamwork, all while keeping students active and having fun! $3/student

 

All About Outdoors: $12/student

Campfire Cooking: Students will learn how to build a fire as well as make a snack to cook over the campfire! $5/student

Teamwork Adventure: Learn and practice teamwork skills through interactive games, problem-solving activities, and the elements on our low ropes challenge course. $4/student

Nature Exploration Hike: Get moving while enjoying the beautiful scenery and sounds of mountains, fields, ponds, wildlife, and Lycoming Creek. $3/student

 

6th-12th Grades:

The Ultimate Camp Experience: $12/student

Wilderness Skills: Learn some general skills for making the most of your time in the outdoors. Activities may include fire-building, shelter construction, or other useful skills! $4/student

Archery: Learn the techniques of shooting a bow and arrow at Susque’s archery range. $4/student

Climbing Wall Challenge: Move beyond your comfort zone by learning to scale Susque’s 30 foot climbing wall. $4/student

 

Real-World Science: $12/student

Ecosystem Studies: Explore the roles of various organisms and the movement of energy and nutrients within local ecosystems. $3/student

Water Quality Investigation: Learn how to test for and identify various quality indicators of the water around us, using Susque’s pond and Lycoming Creek. $3/student

Owl Pellet Dissection: Learn more about owls, their diets, and food webs by dissecting a real owl pellet. $6/student

Overnight Retreats for School Groups

If you’re looking for more than just a day trip, Camp Susque is the perfect location to have your school group spend the night! We have comfortable lodges or rustic cabins, depending on your needs, as well as food service. When you stay overnight at Camp Susque, you can enjoy special programming such as astronomy in our observatory, a night hike, or singing around the campfire. You can also schedule any of our regular activity classes or leave time in your schedule for your own events.

Contact us at fieldtrips@susque.org or 570-998-2151 for more information and pricing.

Book Your Field Trip

Our schedule fills up quickly, so contact us to book your field trip today!

Use the contact form at the bottom of this page or email or call us:

fieldtrips@susque.org

570-998-2151

Please check the below calendar to confirm availability. Any date with “Field Trip Booked” is unavailable.

Rates

Prices start at $9/student, which includes three activity classes at $3/student each. The following activity classes are priced higher to cover additional staffing and special materials:

  • Campfire Cooking: $5/student
  • Climbing Wall: $4/student
  • Archery: $4/student
  • Owl Pellet Dissection: $6/student
  • Wilderness Skills: $4/student

Teachers and chaperones: Free

Campfire and s’mores: A campfire can be provided for your group over the lunch time free of charge. If you would like us to provide s’mores, it is an additional $1/student.

When Payment is Due: Payment is not due until the day of your trip. You only pay for the number of students that you bring with you that day. We can take cash, check, or credit card.

PA Standards

Camp Susque’s field trip classes are designed to meet PA state educational standards. Each of our classes gets students involved in the world around them. They provide a fun environment in which we encourage kids to step out of their comfort zone and explore. While our classes by no means meet every part of every standard, they are structured to introduce and reinforce concepts and skills learned in the classroom.

 If you have any questions about how our classes align with PA state standards, please contact our School of Discovery Coordinator at fieldtrips@susque.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is payment due?

Payment is not due until the day of your field trip. You only need to pay for the number of students you bring with you that day. You can bring cash, check, or credit card.

How many activity classes can we take?

You can take as many or as few activity classes that fit your schedule! School groups usually schedule three activity classes, which is a good amount for a full-day trip. If you are not able to arrive until later in the day or you need to leave early, we can schedule you for two activity classes instead.

How long are activity classes usually?

Activity classes last about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the school’s schedule and the age of the students. We can make most of our classes shorter or longer to fit your needs.

We have a student who uses a wheelchair. Will they be able to participate in the activity classes?

Camp Susque is wheelchair-accessible and we can accommodate many of our activity classes to meet the needs of a student with a wheelchair. Please reach out to our School of Discovery Coordinator at fieldtrips@susque.org for further details and any specific accommodations your students may require.

What should we bring for our field trip?

All students, teachers, and chaperones need to bring a bagged lunch and refillable water bottle with them for their field trip. We have several areas around Camp for students to refill their water bottles as needed. The weather can change quickly, so bringing layers and a rain jacket is always a good idea. Students need to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes to participate in activity classes.

You can view our Field Trip Welcome Packet for further details about what to expect during your time at Camp Susque.

What if it’s raining or there is severe weather?

If the forecast is calling for rain, we will continue the field trip day as scheduled. We will keep the students under cover as much as possible, and have ponchos on hand for students without rain jackets.

If we are expecting thunderstorms, heavy rain, or other severe weather during your field trip day, we will work with you to provide alternative activity classes indoors to keep students safe and dry. If we are not able to accommodate your group inside due to size, we will work with you to reschedule your trip if possible.

Can we bring our own s’mores supplies?

Yes! Many groups would like to have s’mores over their lunch time, but prefer to bring the s’mores supplies themselves instead of having us provide them. Just let us know that you’d like a campfire, and we’ll have that ready for you (along with roasting sticks) during your lunch break.

How many students can we bring?

We have different capacities based on the time of year. During the fall and spring, we can accommodate up to 6 classes of students, or about 120 students. If you have significantly more students that you would like to bring, we recommend scheduling several field trip days.

During our summer camp season, our capacity is smaller. We can only host about 60 students per field trip during the summer.

Inquiries and More Information

To inquire about field trip availability or to simply get more information, feel free to give us a call or use the form below.  We’ll get back to you shortly.

 

Field Trip Inquiry
Name
Name
First
Last
What grade field trip(s) are you interested in? (Choose all the apply)

Dates

Choose dates that would interest you in order of your priority. Add as many as you'd like. For more details, use the comment/question box below.

General Camp Info

Mission and Beliefs

Susque's mission, statement of faith and beliefs

Directions

How to get to Camp Susque

Camp Map

Interactive map of our buildings and property

Financial Accountability

How we use the gifts and finances entrusted to us.

Board of Directors

Our Leadership

History and Tradition

How Camp Susque came to be

Staff & Employment

Meet the Staff

Meet your year-round staff

Work at Susque

Join the Susque team

Internships

For credit & not-for-credit programs available.

Camps & Trips

Summer Youth Camps

For campers entering grades 1-11

Winter Youth Camps

For campers in grades 3-12

Family Camp

Camps for whole families

Wilderness Trips

A camping experience at a whole new level.  Grades 6-12.

Educational Programs

Educational Programs Overview

Special programs and classes throughout the year.

School Field Trips

Field Trips Overview

Unique, interactive and memorable experiences for students.

Susque Podcast

The Susquodcast

A regular podcast dedicated to all things Camp Susque.

Other Programs

Susque Trail Run

Annual 5k through Susque's property

Youth Summit

For Jr and Sr high youth groups

Harvest Festival

Activities for the whole family

Spring Family Weekend

Weekend getaway for intentional family time.

Pastor & Spouse Retreat

A refreshment retreat open to Pastors and their spouses

Donate

Donate to Susque's mission and help create experiences that last a lifetime.

Volunteer

Sign up for a work weekend to help us gear up for camp season.

Wishlist

A list of items that can benefit Susque's mission