DESTINATIONS

Charleston
Field Trips

The FieldTripDirectory.com is a resource for field trips for students, camp groups, homeschool groups and scout troops for day field trips, overnight field trips and youth retreats. Learn about West Virginia’s museums, zoos and aquariums, botanic gardens, nature centers, historic sites, amusement parks, recreation, performing arts and more in Charleston. CLICK on the ACTIVITY FILTER below to learn about these types of field trips.

Avampato Discovery Museum

The Clay Center’s Avampato Discovery Museum houses two floors of hands-on discovery exhibits. Splash around in WaterWorks, learn about the science of sound, and get your body in motion in Healthy Me!!

GRADE LEVEL - Early Childhood, Elementary School PROGRAM TYPE - Day Trips, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Activities COST - Fee GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
TEL - 304-561-3570

Charleston Ballet

For 60 years, the civic troupe of the Charleston Ballet has enriched the cultural life of West Virginia by performing hundreds of traditional and original ballets.

GRADE LEVEL - All Grades PROGRAM TYPE - Day Trips, Self-Guided Activities, Performances COST - Fee GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
TEL - 304-342-6541

Charleston Civic Center

The Charleston Civic Center is the entertainment and convention centerpiece of Charleston, hosting the majority of the state’s premier entertainment, sporting events, and more.

GRADE LEVEL - Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School PROGRAM TYPE - Day Trips, Performances. COST - Fee GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
TEL - 304-345-1500

Clay Center

The Clay Center houses the Avampato Discovery Museum, the Juliet Art Museum and the Maier Foundation Performance Hall, home of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

GRADE LEVEL - All Grades PROGRAM TYPE - Day Trips, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Activities, Guided Activities, Performances. COST - Fee GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
TEL - 304-561-3570

Craik-Patton House

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Craik-Patton House is an example of Greek Revival architecture in the Kanawha River Valley of West Virginia. 

GRADE LEVEL - Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College PROGRAM TYPE - Day Trips, Guided Tours. COST - Free GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
TEL - 304-925-5341

Erma Byrd Art Gallery

The Erma Byrd Gallery showcases the art of the women of West Virginia. The gallery was established by Dr. Janet Welch, the wife of the University of Charleston’s President Edwin Welch, as a tribute to Senator Robert Byrd’s wife Erma.

GRADE LEVEL - Middle School, High School, College PROGRAM TYPE - Day Trips, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Tours. COST - Free GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
TEL - 304-352-0014

Gallery Eleven

Peruse a collection of fine art created by talented West Virginians at Gallery Eleven. Located in downtown Charleston, the gallery showcases paintings, ornaments, pottery, blown glass, and more.

GRADE LEVEL - All Grades PROGRAM TYPE - Day Trips, Self-Guided Tours, Self-Guided Activities COST - Fee GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
TEL - 304-342-0083

Heritage Towers Museum and Culture Center

Heritage Towers Museum and Culture Center is a vital component of the culture of West Virginia. The exhibits reveal historical perspectives of African Americans in West Virginia. 

GRADE LEVEL - All Grades PROGRAM TYPE - Day Trips, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Tours. COST - Fee GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
TEL - 304-343-3250

Kanawha State Forest

Located near the Kanawha Valley, the Kanawha State Forest offers groups 9,300 acres of lush green where they can enjoy a variety of fun activities while experiencing nature.

GRADE LEVEL - All Grades PROGRAM TYPE - Day Trips, Overnight Trips, Self-Guided Tours, Self-Guided Activities. COST - Fee, Free GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
TEL - 304-558-3500

West Virginia Governor's Mansion

The West Virginia Governor’s Mansion is the official residence of West Virginia’s governor and First Lady. A historic residence located near the Kanawha River, the mansion is a Colonial Revival style building.

GRADE LEVEL - Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College PROGRAM TYPE - Day Trips, Guided Tours. COST - Free GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
TEL - 304-558-3588

West Virginia State Capitol

Groups can take a guided tour of the West Virginia State Capitol. On the grounds they will see the statues of Abraham Lincoln and Stonewall Jackson. Groups can also take a self-guided tour of the three galleries where they can observe legislative floor sessions. 

GRADE LEVEL - Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College PROGRAM TYPE - Day Trips, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Tours. COST - Free GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
TEL - 304-558-4839

West Virginia State Museum

Located in the Cultural Center, the West Virginia State Museum allows groups to learn more about the history and culture of West Virginia. Exhibits at the museum focus on topics such as history, art, and archaeology.

GRADE LEVEL - Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College PROGRAM TYPE - Day Trips, Self-Guided Tours, Guided Tours COST - Free GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston
TEL - 304-558-0220

About us

FieldTripDirectory.com (formerly ClassTrips.com and CampDirectorsResources.com) offers field trip ideas for class trips, scout group trips, camp group field trips, and homeschool group field trips in Charleston—early childhood through college. Search for class trips in Charleston by by group type, cost, activity/curriculum type, grade level, distance, and venue name or keyword.

Day class trips are divided by curriculum and subject area:

  • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
    Find Charleston art museums, theater, dance, and music concert field trips.
  • EARLY CHILDHOOD
    Find Charleston class trips to children’s museums, petting zoos, and kids’ shows.
  • HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES
    View Charleston history museums, government & civics, historic sites, living history museums, and multicultural field trip ideas.
  • LIFE SKILLS
    Find Charleston team building field trips, health & safety exhibits, and character education experiences.
  • SCIENCE & NATURE
    Find Charleston aquariums, botanical gardens, environmental studies & nature centers, farms & mazes, planetariums, science museums, STEAM & STEM field trips, dinosaur exhibits, and zoos.
  • RECREATION
    Find Charleston field trip ideas for adventure parks, ropes courses, ziplines, boat excursions, amusement parks, waterparks, kayaking, rafting, tubing, laser tag paintball, roller skating rinks, ice-skating rinks, mini-golf attractions, indoor amusement & recreation centers, and outdoor amusement & recreation centers.


Overnight field trips include trips to NYC, trips to Boston, trips to Washington, DC, trips to Chicago, trips to Atlanta, and other historic cities throughout the US. Retreats are available for environmental education, team building, and recreation.

We created field trip lesson plans to help teachers, scout leaders, camp counselors, and homeschool parents provide an enriching experience for their groups. We know funds for class trips are limited, so we’ve included grants for field trips that cover admission, transportation, and more.

It’s important that students and youth explore new environments, learn about other cultures, and develop an understanding of inclusivity as part of the educational process. People learn in different ways—through hearing, seeing, touching, talking, or doing. Class trips can provide a multi-dimensional learning experience. FieldTripDirectory.com can help you find the right trip for your group. A world of experiences is just a click away at FieldTripDirectory.com.

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