Virtual Field Trips to Mount St. Helens

Investigate Mount St. Helens with us in a live, interactive, and thought-provoking virtual field trip program! While we cannot visit the mountain in person, you and your students can visit in the next best way - in an interactive 360-degree virtual environment!  Our virtual field trip packages are aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, are directed by student observations, and come with ready-to-use lessons plans for before and after your field trip with us.

Live Field Trip Duration: 45 min to 1 hour

Suitable for: Students Grades 4-8

Cost:  $125 per class group, up to 30 students.  Financial assistance is available for qualifying groups.

Virtual Field Trip Package Includes:

• A pre-field trip lesson complete with a lesson plan, pre-recorded videos, and an activity;
• A 3-part virtual field trip in a 360-degree virtual environment that students can explore asynchronously;
• A copy of your students’ responses from the field trip that you can use for assessment and a record of participation;
• A LIVE session led by one of our expert and inspired educators;
• A post-field trip lesson that builds on what students saw and thought about during the field trip; and
• Access to the virtual field trip environment for the remainder of the school year.

TOPICS

OVERVIEW

What will my students be doing BEFORE the virtual field trip?

Our pre-field trip activity includes pre-recorded videos about the 1980 eruption and a follow-up activity to review the events of the 1980 eruption.

What will my students be doing DURING the virtual field trip?

Your students will visit different virtual sites that each feature a different phenomenon at Mount St. Helens.  At their sites, they will make observations, and explore photos, video, and other media that provide evidence to help them figure out what happened at their site.  

360-degree photos that students can use to explore the site that they are visiting in all directions.

Embedded forms for student responses.  Student responses will be recorded in a Google Sheet and Mount St. Helens staff will share your students’ responses with you.

Clickable icons that will pop up with photos and videos to provide evidence and support student sense-making of the phenomenon at their site.

What will my students be doing DURING the live session?

After students have explored the virtual field trip on their own, Mount St. Helens Institute staff will lead a live session on a platform of your choice.  Our field trips are designed to minimize lecture time and to maximize time for students to make observations, practice scientific thinking, and engage in group conversations.   Our educators will be the “guide on the side” as the entire class visits each site together, shares what they noticed and what they thought about it.  There will be time for Q&A.

What will my students be doing AFTER the live session?

We will also provide a lesson plan and resources for after the live session.  Students are asked to come together and to apply what they learned from visiting various field sites around the landscape of Mount St. Helens to draw conclusions and make predictions about patterns in other related landscapes.

Can I view the virtual field trip after the live program?

Your virtual field trip sites in the 360 environment will remain available for the remainder of the semester.

What if a student of mine does not have internet access?

We can provide a copy of the virtual field trip as an executable file that works on Windows or Mac.

What if all of my instruction is asynchronous?

Please email learn@mshinstitute.org to discuss the best solution to replace the live session.  This could include a 1-on-1 session with the teacher or providing some written responses to student questions.

REGISTRATION & NEXT STEPS

BEFORE YOU REGISTER

1. CHECK AVAILABILITY for your live session by clicking the “Register Now” button below and viewing the calendar without checking out. Please check your school calendar before booking your live session– there are no refunds for cancellations. If you are unable to find a date/time that will work for your group, please contact learn@mshinsitute.org as there may be other date/times available. Please register your group for your program no later than 2 weeks before your desired program date. Available dates/times are first-come, first-served.
2. KNOW HOW YOUR GROUP WILL MAKE PAYMENT There are a number of payment options, including:
   • Pay when you complete the registration form with a credit card.
   • Pay after you complete the registration form with a credit card or check. After you complete the registration form, you will be sent an invoice or purchase order with further instructions for how to remit payment. Payment is due 2 weeks before your live program.
3. APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID, IF ELIGIBLE.  Please see the eligibility criteria below, and if eligible complete the financial aid form HERE. Groups awarded financial aid will be sent a coupon code to use at the time of registration.  See below for eligibility criteria for financial assistance:
   • Schools where 70%+ students receive free/reduced meals or are considered low-income will receive a 100% discount.
   • Schools where 69-60% students receive free/reduced meals or are considered low-income will receive a 50% discount.
   • Schools where 59-50% students receive free/reduced meals or are considered low-income will receive a 25% discount.
4. Review our program policies.

After you register:

• After you complete the registration form, you will receive a confirmation email with your receipt, invoice or purchase order within 3 business days.
• After you remit payment, you will receive an email with more detailed information about your live virtual program!