Lakeside Learning Field Trips
Lakeside Learning is a 2.5 hour inquiry-based field trip program for fourth grade students. Aligned with Utah's Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards, students will engage in Scientific Practices, apply Crosscutting Concepts, and explore Disciplinary Core Ideas through firsthand experience of natural phenomena within the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. Students will also learn about the threats facing Great Salt Lake and how they can help protect it.
Lakeside Learning Field Trips take place at two locations: Antelope Island State Park (open to all schools) and Great Salt Lake State Park (open only to the Tooele County School District). Please click on the location below for details and application instructions.
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Tooele School District - Great Salt Lake State Park Lakeside Learning Field Trip
This field trip program is made possible thanks to the generous support of Cargill Salt. 
Trip size is limited to 75 students per day and is restricted to schools within the Tooele County School District ONLY.
On this field trip, students will identify the unique physical structures that help plants and animals survive at the Lake, develop a model of the Great Salt Lake watershed, experiment with oolitic sand, and observe different stages of the brine shrimp and brine fly life cycles. This hands-on experience includes tasting pickleweed, birdwatching with binoculars, and wading into Great Salt Lake (weather permitting). Your students will get their hands dirty and their feet wet!
Spring 2024 field trip applications are now closed. Fall 2024 field trip applications will open in July. Subscribe to our mailing list at the top of this page to be notified when applications open.
Want to explore Great Salt Lake State Park on your own? Check out our Self-Guided Lakeside Learning Field Trip.
All School Districts - Antelope Island State Park Lakeside Learning Field Trip
Trip size is limited to 75 students per day.
On this field trip, students will identify the unique physical structures that help plants and animals survive at the Lake, develop a model of the Great Salt Lake watershed, experiment with oolitic sand, and observe different stages of the brine shrimp and brine fly life cycles. This hands-on experience includes tasting pickleweed, birdwatching with binoculars, and wading into Great Salt Lake (weather permitting). Your students will get their hands dirty and their feet wet!
Spring 2024 field trip applications are now closed. Fall 2024 field trip applications will open in July. Subscribe to our mailing list at the top of this page to be notified when applications open.
Want to explore Antelope Island on your own? Check out our Self-Guided Lakeside Learning Field Trip.
Field Trip Costs and Transportation Reimbursement
We are pleased to offer financial assistance to public schools by offering FREE field trips PLUS bus reimbursement grants. For private schools and homeschool groups, we charge a small instructional fee and are unable to offer transportation grants at this time.
Public and Charter Schools
- FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake pays state park admission fees
- FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake Instructional Fee — $0
- Transportation Reimbursement for Tooele County School District — Fully reimbursed with support from Cargill
- Transportation Reimbursement for all other districts — Up to $300 per school thanks to USDA Forest Service and National Park Trust’s Every Kid Outdoors Small Grants Program
Private Schools and Homeschools
- FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake pays state park admission fees
- FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake Instructional Fee — $50 for groups of 30 students or less. $150 for groups of 31-75 students.
- No transportation reimbursement available
Lakeside Learning Field Trip Safety Protocols
Thank You to Our Lakeside Learning Sponsors
- Cargill Salt
- The Sorenson Legacy Foundation
- USDA Forest Service and National Park Trust’s Every Kid Outdoors Small Grants Program
- Fair Ways Foundation
- Utah Wetlands Foundation