Families choose to homeschool for different reasons. We certainly have many reasons why we choose to take this path in life. However, it seems it all comes down to one word FREEDOM.
One reason we homeschool is for the freedom to take our kids out in the world to learn. I don’t want them to receive an education solely based on sitting at a desk all day. I want my kids to love learning and to realize the world is one big learning opportunity.
Being a homeschool family often means you are a one income family which makes it a little tougher to take advantage of some great learning opportunities. You have to get creative to make things happen.
So when a fellow homeschool friend introduced me to a Facebook group that organizes field trips for homeschoolers, I looked into it. I was surprised to find greatly reduced prices on fabulous field trips. One such field trip was to the New England Aquarium in Boston. I couldn’t pass it up.
Getting To Boston
We live in the Midcoast Maine region. So we had a very early morning in order to catch the 8:00 train in Portland. We were up at 3:30 and on the road by 5:00.
The kids were super excited by the time we reached the train station. They had never road on a passenger train before and couldn’t wait to board. There were around 140 homeschool families going so it took some time to get everyone on the train.
The train ride was almost 3 hours long, but the kids never complained because it was all new to them. It was an
Here are some things to consider if traveling on the train with kids.
- The train has tables that drop down. Therefore, you can bring coloring materials, cards or other small games, and activities for the kids to do.
- There are outlets on the train for each pair of seats. This allows you to charge phones or tablets. You can let the kids play games, watch movies, or listen to audiobooks without worrying they are draining the battery.
- The train has Wi-Fi. Some kids and adults took advantage of this.
- Pack snacks, but if you don’t there is a dining cart selling food and drinks.
- The train has a bathroom. Yay! A word of warning for parents of little boys: the train lurches from time to time. Moms, you can totally understand the issue here. Our little guys have enough problems in the bathroom when the ground is stable. Now it is moving. Just saying.
Subway and City Streets
As the train arrived in Boston, there wasn’t any doubt it was a good idea the kids went on this trip. Maine is a pretty rural state. Our largest city has less than 70,000 people. We have towns in our county where the population is less
My kids have never ridden the subway. We’ve never taken any public transportation, in general, because we have to drive over 20 miles to get to the nearest city that uses a bus system. So at first, the subway seemed like it would be cool. I think the novelty wore off when they were squished in like sardines and trying to stay upright as the train lurched around. I joked we didn’t have our “sea” legs.
Next, we found our way out of the subway and onto the streets. My kids were in awe of the tall buildings, the large numbers of people, and the cars racing through the city streets. They were also surprised at the number of police officers they saw on foot. We had to walk a short distance to Quincy Market, and their heads were on a swivel the whole time.
Dealing with the subway and city streets in my twenties didn’t bother me nearly as much as it did now having kids in tow. I was far more worried than before.
Words of advice when traveling with kids through the subway and busy streets:
- If you have little ones, use an umbrella stroller, a baby carrier or backpack to “wear” your youngest ones, or a child harness of some kind so they do not slip from your grasp. When my son was little, he called his harness his “puppy pack.” I couldn’t have survived my son’s younger years without it.
- Allow extra time to get around. As all parents are aware, it takes a little longer to get places when you have kids.
New England Aquarium
The highlight of our trip was the aquarium. The aquarium is wonderful for toddlers to adults. The large tank that rises up through the center is a sight to see. The kids were racing up the ramp to catch a glimpse of what else would swim by and to follow the giant sea turtle to the top of the tank. It was beautiful to watch a variety of sea life swim by.
Another highlight of the aquarium was the ray and shark touch tank. I could have stayed there for hours watching the rays and feeling their smooth skin. All the kids were filled with excitement every time a ray came by and let them touch it. The sharks were a little more elusive. One girl in our homeschool group was able to touch one, though.
The kids loved the penguins, seals, and the various tanks with exciting things to see. I was impressed with the variety of creatures from underwater anacondas to piranhas. There was so much to enjoy.
One thing to be aware of before entering the aquarium is there is no food, drink, or gum allowed. You will want to plan accordingly before entering. They do have a little cafe. I didn’t go to it so I’m not sure what they had for food. It is just something to keep in mind.
IMAX
When we were done exploring the aquarium, we walked next door to the IMAX Theater where we saw “Our Blue Planet.” It was a really nice 3D presentation about life in our oceans. The kids were enthralled with it. It also helped it was in 3D so it appeared dolphins were diving towards you and water was going to splash in
Time to Go Home
By the time the IMAX show was done, it was dark and the city was lit up. We made our way back through the streets, on the subway, and to the train station during rush hour traffic. We were all spent at that point. We were ready to go home. Although, home was still 5 hours away.
Was it worth it?
Our trip was a long adventure. It was a little chaotic traveling with 140 people. Some of us got separated so there were some panicked moms. We also had some confusion at the end of the night trying to get back to the subway and train. Overall, it was well worth it.
The Benefits
- My kids experienced city life on a much grander scale. I think it was good for them to see how others live. Maybe when they read about cities, it will have a little more meaning to them. They’ve seen the hustle and bustle of busier places. They also seemed to realize they prefer a more rural setting.
- They had new experiences. They had never ridden passenger trains and subways. My kids have read about it but now they have a better understanding of what it is all about.
- The aquarium was a wonderful learning experience. They saw first-hand creatures they have only seen on TV or read about. It took learning to a whole new level.
- By getting out and experiencing new things, I hope they always continue to seek out new places to go and explore so they are always learning.
What are some great field trips you have done with your kids?
Happy Homeschooling!
