Field Trips

Every Kid Outdoors 4th Grade program

Grade Level:
Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject:
Social Studies

Gateway Arch National Park would like to invite you and your 4th grade class for a FREE visit to the park through the Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) program! Thanks to a grant from the National Park Foundation, transportation costs for your visit will be paid in full. The goal of the Every Kid Outdoors program is to provide an opportunity for 4th grade students and their families, nationwide, to experience their federal public lands and waters in person throughout the year.  Discovering new places and learning about our natural, cultural, and historical heritage, will foster a lifelong relationship and stewardship of their public lands.  How it Works: This is a three-part program, which includes a pre-visit, a field trip, and post-visit elements. 

  1. Pre-Visit – Ideally done a week or two before the park visit. 

    • A National Park Service (NPS)ranger will travel to your school and spend 30-minutes with each class highlighting the Every Kid Outdoors program, why our federal lands are important, and preparing for your visit to Gateway Arch National Park.

  2. Field Trip – The on-site experience will take place at Gateway Arch National Park.

    • All students will participate in a ranger-led program at the Museum at the Gateway Arch to learn about the history of St. Louis and the role it played in the nineteenth century westward expansion movement.

    • All students in the class will receive their own Every Kid Outdoors pass, which gives them and their family access to all federal sites nationwide for free! The pass is valid from the day it is received until August 31 of the same school year.

    • School/students are responsible for their own lunches. 

    • Your visit also includes FREE tickets for tram rides to the top of the Arch for all students and one adult chaperone ticket for every ten students.  Additional adults/chaperones will be responsible for the cost of their own tickets. Additional space may also be limited.

  3. Post-Visit Activities – 

    • Each teacher will receive a post-visit activity to use in the classroom to extend the learning experience. 

    • There is a possibility that your class will be selected for a survey by the National Park Foundation developed for students visiting the national parks and their teachers. A small sample of classes will be selected to assess how well we are doing in meeting our objectives and to report back to our donors on the impact of the transportation grant.  

For more information on this opportunity, please call 314-655-1635.

Tags: gateway arch national park field trips

Last updated: January 5, 2023