There are four options available for planning an environmental education field trip to Blue Jay Point. Reservations are required for all programs, field trips, and materials. Please see Field Trip Facts for more information on program options & fees and scheduling a field trip.

General Group Visit – Teachers prepare and lead the activities or secure services of a non-park specialist to present their program. No staff-led services are included with this option. Notice of large group trips 75 people is appreciated. We have tips to help make your trip a success!

Discovery Box/Resource Loan – This includes in-park use of reserved Discovery Boxes with written activity instructions plus necessary equipment, library resources and miscellaneous equipment. No staff-led program services are included in this option. Reservation of materials is required.

Group Program – This option includes services of Blue Jay Point staff conducting a one-hour nature program. Single-grade programs are for a typical class size, with one chaperone per five children. Multi-age programs 5–8 years, 9–12 years, and 13 and up are for available for groups of 15 or less, with one chaperone per five children. Please see our Group Programs list for program topic descriptions and see below for suggestions for your grade-level plus curriculum correlations. Contact staff to schedule a program at least two months in advance and up to one year in advance. Use of a Blue Jay classroom is limited to program time only as determined by program leader.  **Note: Blue Jay's staff-led programs go on rain or shine – we have great indoor resources and activities to use when needed!

Overnight Lodge – This option includes overnight use of the Lodge, library resources, Discovery Boxes and equipment, as available. No staff-led program services are included, though you are welcome to schedule guided programs during your stay please see above. Please read the following for more information about our Overnight Lodge facility. 

The following information may be useful to you in planning a Preschool field trip to Blue Jay Point:

Field Trip Facts – information on field trip options and scheduling procedures.

Fledglings Programs – series of group programs designed for preschool and kindergarten-aged children, just ready to learn about the natural world. 

Jr. Discovery Boxes – ready-to-go activity boxes especially appropriate for children in grades K–2.

Sample Day Trip agenda – a day in the life of a visiting preschool class or classes.

Please contact us to reserve group programs or Jr. Discovery Boxes. We begin taking reservations up to one year in advance, so the earlier the better!

The following information may be useful to you in planning a Kindergarten field trip to Blue Jay Point:

Field Trip Facts  – information on field trip options and scheduling procedures.

Group Programs – list of staff-led programs available at Blue Jay Point; the following programs are some that are especially suited to kindergarten field trips to Blue Jay Point

• Nature's Puzzle – Learn a potpourri of subjects from plant ID to habitat concepts to bird watching and more. Help students feel comfortable in an outdoor setting and give them a chance to use their observation skills while they learn how all the pieces of Nature's puzzle fit together.
• Incredible Insects – Through a variety of activities and a garden walk, learn what makes an insect an insect, how they grow and where we can find them. (year around)
• Beaver Fever - Learn about beaver habitat, adaptations, and lifestyle through lots of visuals and interactive games. 

Curriculum Correlation sheet – a full listing of our group programs with their NC DPI curriculum correlations for K–5.

Jr. Discovery Box list  – ready-to-go activity boxes especially appropriate for children in grades K–2.

Sample Day Trip agenda – a day in the life of a visiting Kindergarten class or classes.

Please contact us to reserve group programs or Jr. Discovery Boxes. We begin taking reservations up to one year in advance, so the earlier the better!

The following information may be useful to you in planning a 1st Grade field trip to Blue Jay Point:

Field Trip Facts sheet – information on field trip options and scheduling procedures.

Group Programs sheet – list of staff-led programs available at Blue Jay Point; the following programs are some that are especially suited to your curriculum:

• Nature's Puzzle – Learn a potpourri of subjects from plant ID to habitat concepts to bird watching and more. Help students feel comfortable in an outdoor setting and give them a chance to use their observation skills while they learn how all the pieces of Nature's puzzle fit together.
• Pond Study – Learn about aquatic insects and other animals, how to identify them, and how they make their living in a watery world
• Rip, Roaring Reptiles - Learn about the reptiles common to the Piedmont region of North Carolina through an indoor presentation, hands-on investigation stations, and a hike

Curriculum Correlation sheet – a full listing of our group programs with their NC DPI curriculum correlations for grades K-5.

Jr. Discovery Box List –  ready-to-go activity boxes especially appropriate for children in grades K–2.

Sample day-trip agenda – a day in the life of a visiting first-grade class or classes.

Please contact us to reserve group programs or Discovery Boxes. We begin taking reservations up to one year in advance, so the earlier the better!!

The following information may be useful to you in planning a Second Grade field trip to Blue Jay Point:

Field Trip Facts sheet – information on field trip options and scheduling procedures 

Group Programs sheet – list of staff-led programs available at Blue Jay Point; the following programs are some that are especially suited to your curriculum:

• Incredible Insects – Through a variety of activities and a garden walk, learn what makes an insect an insect, how they grow and where we can find them. (year-round) 
• Amphibian Antics - Explore the characteristics of amphibians as we search our pond for amphibian adults and larvae.
• Pond Study – Learn about aquatic insects and other animals, how to identify them, and how they make their living in a watery world

Curriculum Correlation sheet – a full listing of our group programs with their NC DPI curriculum correlations for grades K–5.

Jr. Discovery Box list  –  ready-to-go activity boxes especially appropriate for children in grades K–2.

Sample day-trip agenda  –  a day in the life of a visiting second grade class or classes.

Please contact us to reserve group programs or Discovery Boxes. We begin taking reservations one year in advance, so the earlier the better!

The following information may be useful to you in planning a Third Grade field trip to Blue Jay Point:

Field Trip Facts sheet – information on field trip options and scheduling procedures.

Group Programs sheet – list of staff-led programs available at Blue Jay Point; the following programs are some that are especially suited to your curriculum:

• The Rotten Truth – Explore the component of soil from minerals and decaying organic matter to the tiny organisms that make humus happen in this hike-based program with a hand-on investigation.
• Pollination Mayhem – Did you know that one of every 3 bites of food you take is thanks to a pollinator? Come learn about this important plant and animal interaction as we explore pollinators and actively learn through Pollination Mayhem
• Tree-mendous Trees – Through role-playing, activities and a journey into the woods, discover the inner workings of a tree, tree life cycles and the physical characteristics of common tree species. Learn how animals and  humans use different parts of the tree, and who here at Blue Jay calls a tree home.

Curriculum Correlation Sheet– a full listing of our group programs with their NC DPI curriculum correlations for grades K–5.

Discovery Box list – ready-to-go activity boxes to use in the park.

Sample day-trip agenda – a day in the life of a visiting third-grade class or classes.

Please contact us to reserve group programs or Discovery Boxes. We begin taking reservations up to one year in advance, so the earlier the better!

The following information may be useful to you in planning a Fourth Grade field trip to Blue Jay Point:

Field Trip Facts sheet – information on field trip options and scheduling procedures.

Group Programs sheet– list of staff-led programs available at Blue Jay Point; the following programs are some that are especially suited to your curriculum:

• Remarkable Raptors – Appreciate the unique niche of day- and night-time raptors with this informative mostly indoor but very interactive program about birds-of-prey adaptations and behavior.
• Piedmont Ecology – Learn about piedmont ecology, including plant and animal interrelationships, while focusing on ecological succession in this hike-based program.
• It's Neuse to Me! – Learn what a watershed is, about runoff and erosion, why watersheds are important to us, and how human interaction affects water quality through point source and non-point source pollution (and prevention). Learn about your ecological address!

Curriculum Correlation sheet – a full listing of our group programs with their curriculum correlations for K–5.

Discovery Box list – ready-to-go activity boxes especially appropriate for children in grades K–5.

Sample day-trip agenda  – a day in the life of a visiting fourth-grade class or classes.

Overnight Lodge – information on our overnight Lodge.

Sample Overnight Lodge agenda – a night in the life of a visiting fourth-grade class.

Please contact us to reserve group programs or Discovery Boxes. We begin taking reservations up to one year in advance, so the earlier the better!

The following information may be useful to any Fifth Grade teacher in planning a day time or overnight field trip to Blue Jay Point:

Field Trip Facts sheet – information on field trip options and scheduling procedures.

Group Programs sheet– list of staff-led programs available at Blue Jay Point; the following programs are some that are especially suited to your curriculum:

• Pond Study – Learn about aquatic insects and other animals, how to identify them and how they make their living in a watery world—focus is on a pond ecosystem.
• Habitat Hike – Learn about interrelationships between plants and animals and their environment as we visit three prominent piedmont habitats.
• It's Neuse to Me! – Learn what a watershed is, about runoff and erosion, why watersheds are important to us, and how human interaction affects water quality through point source and non-point source pollution (and prevention). Learn about your ecological address!

Curriculum Correlation sheet –a full listing of our group programs with their curriculum correlations for K–5.

Discovery Box list – ready-to-go activity boxes to use in the park.

Sample day-trip agenda  –  a day in the life of a visiting fifth grade class or classes.

Overnight Lodge – information on our overnight Lodge

Sample Overnight Lodge agenda – a night in the life of a visiting fifth-grade class

Please contact us to reserve the Lodge, group programs or Discovery Boxes. We begin taking reservations up to one year in advance, so the earlier the better!

The following information may be useful to you in planning a either a day time or overnight middle or high school field trip to Blue Jay Point:

Field Trip Facts sheet  – information on field trip options and scheduling procedures.

Group Programs sheet – list of staff-led programs available at Blue Jay Point. Contact us to talk about potential, easy modifications that will make a group program age-appropriate and be a best fit for your group.

Middle & High School Discovery Box list – ready-to-go activity boxes to use in the park, most suitable for older students.

Sample day-trip agenda – a day in the life of a visiting high school class or classes.

Overnight Lodge – information on our overnight Lodge

Sample overnight trip agenda – a night in the life of a visiting school class

Please contact us to reserve the Lodge, group programs or Discovery Boxes. We begin taking reservations up to one year in advance, so the earlier the better!

The following information may be useful to you in planning either a day time or overnight homeschool group field trip to Blue Jay Point:

Field Trip Facts sheet  – information on field trip options and scheduling procedures.

Group Programs sheet– list of staff-led programs available at Blue Jay Point; the following programs are some that are appropriate for mixed age groups.

• Wildlife Detectives – Develop observation skills and recognition of signs indicating animal presence, including mammals, birds and insects in this popular program that is a combination of indoor hands-on experiences followed by a hike to apply what you've learned.
• Amphibian Antics – Explore the characteristics of amphibians as we search our pond for amphibian adults and larvae.

Discovery Box list – ready-to-go activity boxes to use in the park especially appropriate for children in grades K–5. (See Middle/High school list above!)

Sample Homeschool day-trip agenda – a day in the life of homeschool group at Blue Jay.

Overnight Lodge – information on our overnight Lodge

Please contact us to reserve group programs or Discovery Boxes. We begin taking reservations up to one year in advance, so the earlier the better!!