Field Trips
Hamilton County ReSource offers field trips with a focus on waste reduction to schools within Hamilton County. To qualify for bus reimbursement, schools must be registered with ReSource's Let's Stop Waste at School (LSW) Program and be willing to submit student reflections (PDF) after the trip.
Register for a Field Trip
Before you register, please take note of the available dates, times, chaperone requirement, and grade levels for each field trip listed below. To register for a field trip, complete the Field Trip Registration Form (PDF) and email to Elise Roalef. **To register for the Nature of Recycling field trip at Greenacres, please visit Greenacres.org.
Bus Reimbursement
Your school must be a member of the Let's Stop Waste at School (LSW) Program in order to qualify for bus reimbursement. The Bus Reimbursement request is page two of the Field Trip Registration Form.
- Burnet Woods: Trailside Nature Center
- Burnet Woods and Rumpke Landfill Combo
- Cincinnati Zoo: America Recycles Day
- Civic Garden Center: Compost Kids
- Gorman Heritage Farm: Farms and Food Waste
- Greenacres: Nature of Recycling
- La Soupe: Food Rescue and Transformation
- Rumpke: Tour the Landfill
- Rumpke: Tour the Materials Recovery Facility
Burnet Woods: Trailside Nature Center
- Grades: 1-6
- Location: Burnet Woods
- 2023 Date: Nov. 16
- Times: 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (can be flexible)
- Maximum Students: 50
- Description: Students will participate in an interactive program that includes a hike to observe decomposition, followed by games and activities about recycling, composting, and natural cycles at Burnet Woods' Trailside Nature Center.
- Ohio Learning Standards (PDF)
Burnet Woods and Rumpke Landfill Combo
- Grades: 1-6
- Location: Burnet Woods and Rumpke Landfill
- 2024 Dates: Coming soon
- Times: 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (can be flexible)
- Maximum Students: 50
- Description: Students will participate in an interactive program that includes a hike to observe decomposition, followed by games and activities about recycling, composting, and natural cycles at Burnet Woods' Trailside Nature Center. Then, they will travel to take a bus tour of Rumpke's massive landfill to see where all the garbage goes and be reminded that items never go "away".
- Ohio Learning Standards (PDF)
Cincinnati Zoo: America Recycles Day
- Grades: 3-5
- Location: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
- 2023 Date: All spots have been filled. Please check back at the end of August 2024 for next year's date.
- Note: This field trip is ONLY offered to schools in the Let's Stop Waste program.
- Chaperone Requirement: 1 chaperone for every 7 students
- Description: Students will use a passport to explore the grounds of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. At various activity stations, they will learn how recycling and waste reduction help not only people but also creatures and their habitats all over the world.
- Ohio Learning Standards (PDF)
Civic Garden Center: Compost Kids
- Grades: K-6
- Location: Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati
- Spring 2024 Dates: April 2 ; May 21
- Times: 10:00am-12:30pm. You may also add an extra 30 minutes for lunch at the end.
- Maximum Students: 45
- Chaperone Requirement: Need 4 chaperones as the students will be split into 4 groups for activity rotations.
- Description: Students learn about composting, environmentally-friendly gardening and pollinating insects while participating in a number of hands-on activities. School groups are welcome to pack a waste-free lunch and eat outdoors on the patio after the program.
- Ohio Learning Standards (PDF)
Gorman Heritage Farm: Farms and Food Waste
- Grades: 3-8
- Location: Gorman Heritage Farm
- Spring 2024 Date: March 27
- Times: 2-hour sessions OR an extended 4-hour session between 10am-2pm
- Maximum Students: 50
- Description: From compost exploration to farm animals, students will learn why and how to reduce food waste through hands-on activities at various stations around the farm. Groups may pack a waste-free lunch and eat on-site after the program.
Greenacres: Nature of Recycling
- Grades: K-12
- Location: Greenacres Foundation
- Times: 9 to 11:30 am
- Maximum Students: 30
- Chaperone Requirement: 1 chaperone per every 10 students is required.
- Description: Learn about waste reduction through interactive outdoor activities. Programs are tailored for each group. Greenacres provides bus reimbursement for qualifying schools. If your school does not qualify for Greenacres' bus reimbursement, you may apply for the District's bus reimbursement (PDF) after registering for Greenacres' program.
- Choose a Date and Register: Online at Greenacres.org
La Soupe: Food Rescue and Transformation
- Grades: 10-12
- Location: La Soupe
- Dates for 2023-2024 School Year: Jan. 18
- Times: 9:30am-11:00am
- Maximum Students: 15
- Description: High students will get to learn about La Soupe's mission to rescue, transform, and share food with those in need in the community. As they learn about hunger and the impact of food waste in the community, students will practice knife skills and prepare food for donation. Then, they will practice improvisational cooking skills as they create dishes that will be shared together for lunch!
- Ohio Learning Standards (PDF)
Rumpke: Tour the Landfill
- Grades: 1-12
- Location: Rumpke Sanitary Landfill
- Fall 2023 Dates: Dates have been booked. Check back for the spring!
- Times: 10:00am or 1:00pm (if you have a different need, please check with Elise)
- Maximum Students: 40
- Description: Take a bus tour of the landfill and see where all the garbage goes while also learning a history of Rumpke and various stories of the landfill.
- Ohio Learning Standards (PDF)
Rumpke: Tour the Materials Recovery Facility
- Grades: 9-12
- Location: Rumpke's Material Recovery Facility (MRF)
- Fall 2023 Dates: Dates have been booked. Check back for Spring 2024 dates.
- Times: 9:30am or 1:00pm on Wednesdays only.
- Maximum Students: 20
- Description: Take a tour of the Materials Recovery Facility to learn how items collected from recycling bins are sorted by humans, robots, magnets, and other technology before they get sent off to recycling factories. This is an eye-opening experience and also helps students understand the importance of recycling the proper items.
- Ohio Learning Standards (PDF)
