Field trips are a time to hang out with friends, explore new places, and learn new things, but there has to be more than just those surface-level details. What drives people to want to go out and hang out with friends? It cannot just be to “skip school” or have an excuse to hang out. This year, Yorba Linda’s publication team continued their tradition and went on an adventure of a lifetime in the Big Apple.
They commenced their trip on Halloween Day. From a lost phone to a lost bus, it was undoubtedly an experience from the start. They made it and spent Halloween night as farmers and farm animals, squishing through crowds of people in the village and on the metro. Then, they trod the streets along with millions of others. The concrete jungle of New York felt like home for those 5 days, filled with friendship and experiences of a lifetime. From the centuries of art at the MET to “Back to the Future” on Broadway to Columbia University, it was an eye-opening experience around every corner.
Learning went beyond just observing culture or experiencing a new place. There was this sense of independence and connection from everyone. It was a time when many students could be away from home, taking on the world (sharing bathrooms) for the first time; while having friends to share that journey with. For some, it was the first time they had taken the metro or packed a suitcase alone. What can’t be learned from the classroom all revolves around us.

Along with those life lessons, there was classroom learning, too. Students from Newspaper and Yearbook classes attended the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s workshops to hone in on their crafts, meet real journalists and professional writers, and talk amongst some of the brightest aspiring journalists. These experiences improved writing skills and led to people willing to open up an uncomfortable room or topic. Attending workshops encouraged students to dig deeper and find the real story, not just the fluff that the public eye can see. From filing FOIA requests to the student press law center, they learned that student journalism can go beyond Hollywood gossip and glam. Field trips are eye-opening experiences that improve student learning. Madison Miller (11) states, “Field trips are great because they take the classroom knowledge and put it in a real-world context.” These are the experiences that will continue to circulate throughout someone’s life. The lessons learned on field trips like this stay long after returning to the classroom, helping shape who we are and who we will become. They remind us that learning happens everywhere–in classrooms, city streets, and within ourselves.
Ashley Chavez • Dec 5, 2024 at 9:20 PM
Amazing article! I love field trips.
Journey Mou • Dec 5, 2024 at 7:31 AM
This seems like it was an amazing trip full of exciting moments! Field trips are a great way to incorporate learning to places outside of the classroom.
Charlie C. • Dec 5, 2024 at 7:31 AM
Fields trips are such a great way of learning the different cultures existing in parts of the world; for me personally, I did also learn a little bit more about traveling myself. The article really summarized the trip we went on!
Ameera • Dec 5, 2024 at 7:30 AM
This is such a great article. It really captures and explains all the amazing experiences we had in New York.
Riyanka Shah • Dec 5, 2024 at 7:29 AM
This trip looks so fun and adventurous! Thank you for the inside scoop of this Halloween newspaper field trip.
Derek Truong • Dec 5, 2024 at 7:27 AM
I love field trips, but I haven’t had one in a long time. How do you think field trips change as you get older?
Noelle Wu • Dec 5, 2024 at 7:25 AM
I personally love field trips. As someone who went on the New York trip this year, I can confirm that it really was an eye-opening experience around every corner! Thank you for this article!
Ishani Bhatt • Dec 5, 2024 at 7:25 AM
Cool article! I had so much fun on this trip!
Brenda • Dec 5, 2024 at 7:24 AM
This was such an interesting article. I didn’t know there were such deep meanings and experiences that could be learned from field trips!
Grecia • Dec 5, 2024 at 7:24 AM
amazing insight! I had so much fun on this trip!
Tiffany Im • Dec 5, 2024 at 7:24 AM
It sounds like the publication team learned much more than just journalism on this trip – great article!
Megan Wang • Dec 5, 2024 at 7:23 AM
I loved this article! It was great how you were able to capture the many great benefits associated with the field trip, as well as giving us an inside perspective of how the field trip was. Your article was very thoughtful 🙂
Melody Sutanto • Dec 5, 2024 at 7:23 AM
Really great to learn about field trips and the NY trip in one article.