4 Educational Field Trips in Dayton, Ohio

SunWatch Indian Village/ Archeological Park is located at 2301 W. River Road Dayton, OH 45418 (937) 268-8199
It was excavated between 1971 and 1988. Archeologists found a very well planned Indian village from the Fort Ancient period, still partially intact. The village has astronomical alignments that seem to mark the seasons. It may tell when it is time to plant, time to harvest, and other significant times of the year.
SunWatch Indian Village has now been partially reconstructed and has a Museum/ Interpretive Center on site, so you can learn indoors or out. They have a friendly staff and offer very informative guided tours. SunWatch Village offers 5 unique tours that match well with a lot of homeschool curriculum guidelines. When we went, we took a guided tour. First, we watched an introductory film in the indoor theatre, looked at some of the artifacts found by the Archaeologists, and learned about the history of the Indians who lived there. Then the guide took us outside and explained the astronomical alignments, the processes used to build the thatch houses, and the harvesting techniques the Indians used. We learned about musical instruments, tools, and how the chimneys in the houses worked. The guide showed us how the stockade was made and the gardens. The kids played games that the Indians would have played 800 years ago that may have taught them skills they needed to hunt. Lastly, we got to visit the Souvenir Shop, where the kids each picked out a keepsake from their visit, they have reasonably priced items. It was a very impressive tour.

SunWatch Indian Village/ Archaeological Park also offers;
Spring Homeschool Classes (Kindergarten through 2nd grade students and 3rd through 6th grade students)
Summer Lore (PreK-9th grade+),
Archaeological Field Work Class (Available Spring-Fall),
Prairie Programs (Open to school groups of 10-30 students),
Overnight Experiences (Indoors or Outdoors), and
Scout Days (All Girl and Boy Scouts, Campfire Boys and Girls, and members of Y Adventure Programs)
For cost of admission, dates, and times go to: http://www.sunwatch.org

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is located at 2600 DeWeese Parkway Dayton, OH 45414 937-275-7431 (fax) 937-275-5811 and is operated by the Dayton Society of Natural History.
A 94,000 square foot interactive, hands-on place to learn about the world around you. They make education fun for all ages, including adults, with age-appropriate sections on specific topics such as a live animal zoo, a Planetarium, and interactive science and technology exhibits. At the Boonshoft Museum you can visit with live animals and watch them feed the otters (Shiloh and Sushi), go to a "Bat Chat", or see the hissing cockroaches. There are other places where you can do science experiments, see a mummy, play in the water, or play on the Three-story Climbing Tower and Slide, so much fun. The Boonshoft Museum offers "Exhibits to go" that are designed to be taken to schools, camps, and Senior Care Facilities. They have "Featured Exhibits" that are only there for a limited time so you can have a different experience every time you visit. The "Permanent Exhibits" allow you to have a familiar place to take the kids and have fun.

Permanent Exhibits at the Boonshoft Museum include:
Hall of the Universe (Study astronomy, stroll through the cosmos, touch the moon, learn about our galaxy and outer space)

Charles E. Exley, Jr. Wild Ohio Zoo (features over 60 animals that are native to Ohio)

Oscar Boonshoft Science Central (hands-on science experiments: homemade snow, slime, pine cone bird feeder )

Explorers Crossing (role-play at the lodge/ general store, be a veterinarian, tune up a car, go to jail at the jailhouse, play dress-up, learn about recycling at the recycling center, and much more)

Mead Tree House (fully-enclosed tree house that extends beyond the Museum walls)

That Kids' Playce (for toddlers to have hands-on play, The Fossil Pit for archaeological digging, Padded Baby " Garden", Building Blocks, Manipulative Area, Pioneer Log Cabin, Tree House and Slide, and much more )

African Room (home of Nesiur the Mummy)

Vectren Glowing Geology (press a button and watch the rocks glow)

Bieser Discovery Center (learn about the natural world; reptiles, insects, and mammals, fossils, minerals, and more)

Sonoran Desert (run your fingers through desert soil, study desert animals, and see the differences between daytime and nighttime desert environments)

Tidal Pool (live sea stars, sea anemones, sea cucumbers, and gumboot chitons with a Museum staff member to assist you)

Reynolds and Reynolds Exploration Computer Center (10 computers featuring educational programs to play and learn from)

Three-story Climbing Tower and Slide (scale down a rope ladder, swish down a spiral slide, climb up into a tower that extends above the building-so much fun!)

For cost of admission, dates, and times go to: http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org

Originally measuring 68 or more feet in height, the mound has now been reduced to 65 feet, as a result of at least one attempt to excavate it. It has a circumference of about 877 feet. Miamisburg Mound is the largest conical shaped burial mound in the state. In 1869 the site was partially excavated. The shape of the mound and archaeological finds of the area suggest that it was constructed by the Adena Indians (800 B.C.- A.D. 100) The Adena Indians were the first in Ohio to build earthworks and burial mounds, giving rise to their popular name,The Mound Builders.
You can climb one hundred and sixteen stone steps that lead to the top of the mound. Great exercise for your glutes!
It is open daylight hours throughout the year and picnic facilities are available.
To find out more about the Miamisburg Mound State Memorial and the Adena Indians go to:
http://www.miamisburg.org/miamisburg_mound.htm or
http://www.stateparks.com/miamisburg_mound.html

Carillon Historical Park is situated on a 65-acre campus between the Great Miami River and a glacial moraine. It includes 25 historical buildings and hundreds of artifacts shown throughout the park. The park is filled with Dayton's history from 1796 through the next two centuries with outdoor exhibits of history, invention, and transportation.
You can see the original 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world's first practical airplane and a National Historic Landmark, an 1835 B&O (Grasshopper) Steam Locomotive, and the first auto mobile self-starter. Costumed Interpreters will take you through many of Dayton's oldest buildings, such as; Newcom's Tavern, erected in 1796,
William Morris House, built about 1815 in Centerville, Ohio, and
Locust Grove School #12, a one- room schoolhouse that held grades 1st-8th for over 30 years, built in 1896 in Springfield, Ohio- A.B. Graham, the founder of the 4H Club movement was once taught in this school.
The Park shows industries; like the Huffy Corporation, innovations; like flood control, and inventions; like the cash register. You can see the Deeds Barn, the Wright's Cycle Shop, and a 1930's print shop showing the Miami Valley's printing history. You can take a ride on the 1/8th scale Carillon Park Railroad ran by an all-volunteer, not for profit, Ohio corporation called Carillon Park Rail & Steam Society, Inc., very fun.
Carillon Historical Park is home to one of Dayton's best-known landmarks, the Deeds Carillon, the largest carillon in Ohio. The 151-foot tower houses 57 bells. It was completed in 1942 and refurbished in 1988, converting it from an electronically controlled carillon to a traditional, mechanical one.
For cost of admission, dates, and times go to: http://www.daytonhistory.org/destinations/carillon-park.htm