Links to learn more about some of these field trips are available in the Family Resources section of the Students & Parents tab of this site.

New students will visit the park with their 7th or 8th grade Big. They will participate in outdoor learning at the all-day field school with leaf-gathering and study, a nature walk and writing exercises. There will be a noon bonfire with hot dogs and lemonade. Students must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

The Class of 2020 will go to Lorado Taft March 30th  -April 3rd. The cost is $300.00 per student. This covers Room & Board, student insurance, bus, truck for luggage, special supplies, Thursday night party, t-shirt, etc.  An informational letter and payment schedule was included in the report card packet at the end of their seventh grade year. The payment schedule is:

1st Payment due Monday, November: $100.00

2nd Payment due  Tuesday, January: $100.00

3rd Payment due Tuesday, February: $100.00

If you wish to pay a little each month between now and February, you may do so through the office.  No student will be denied the opportunity to participate in the field school because of financial problems, but there are no complete scholarships available. 

Information packets were given to the 8th graders on Friday, Feb 28th. The permission slips were due in the office by March 7th.

There will be a MANDATORY parent meeting in the small gym. Parents will receive important information at this meeting. Students must have a Health Record Form filled out by a parent/guardian.

Please consider contributing funds to support our scholarship fund to help other students. Donations should be sent to the office.  Checks can be made payable to Washington Gifted School.

The Taft Field Campus consists of 11 buildings located on 140 wooded acres on a bluff overlooking the Rock River. It is about 2 1/2 miles northeast of Oregon, IL. While there, the students will participate in an educational program in an outdoor setting.

The Lorado Taft Field Trip is a favorite of every graduating class. Students learn Orienteering, History, Native American Culture and much more, growing confidence in themselves through these activities. Some years it is hot, some years it is cold, but they always have a great experience. The 8th graders truly bond like never before.

The Challenger Learning Center provides simulated space missions to central Illinois schools of K-12 students. Students in 7th grade become the flight controllers and astronauts during their SCHOOL mission to Rendezvous with a Comet, or take a Voyage to Mars.

Students learn about world cultures on this tour of the museum housing collections of artifacts from ancient civilizations, medieval times and american native peoples. 

Students visit Peoria's new Riverfront Museum to learn more about our area art and history.

This visit to the Career Expo allows students the opportunity to explore an array of careers within the construction industry and gain actual hands-on experience. They rotate through 10 stations of mock construction sites -- laying brick, wiring light fixtures, even using a mini backhoe. All students are required to wear the provided safety equipment at all times!

Predators and prey are on display at the park, making it easy to show students the relationships between them and their special adaptations to each role. Students can learn about the habitats animals inhabit and what happens if a habitat is lost or destroyed. 6th graders will be seeing a presentation on raptors, walking through the reptile room and hiking the trails in the park. Students must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

"Wildlife Prairie Park is often referred to as a jewel in the Midwest. Located just outside of Peoria, IL, this 2,000 acre zoological park is home to over 150 animals; that's 50 different species that are native to Illinois. Our guests come to learn about wolves, bison, waterfowl, black bears, elk, cougar, otter and much more." from WPSP website.

8th grade students get to take a look at some of the great old buildings we have downtown. They bring their notebooks, pencils and lunch so that they can spend most of the day obtaining information for their Architecture Projects. Some of the stops are the old train depot on Water St. and the mansions on Moss Avenue.

Students visiting Chautauqua get to see much of Illinois' natural diversity in the protected animals and plants there. They visit as part of their Animals project in 5th grade. Students must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

Students can bring binoculars to school the week of the trip to practice using them. 

Please bring a sack lunch, comfortable walking shoes, extra shoes(in case of mud or water) and a bag to store messy shoes in, sunscreen and hat(if sunny), bug spray if needed and backpack. Students may also want to bring the aforementioned binoculars.

The 5th grade students hike past interesting geologic formations and see the lovely flora and fauna that Illinois has to offer. Students must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. Make sure to wear shoes you don't mind getting messy, because it is usually muddy when we go!

Students in the 6th grade tour the Capitol Building, the Military Museum and the Illinois State Museum or the Abraham Lincoln Museum(depending upon availability) to learn more about Abraham Lincoln's history and our state government. Pack a good lunch!

It's a long bus ride, but everyone agrees that it is well worth it. History, nature, architecture and art are on display among the slides and climbing areas that even adults will enjoy. St Louis Field Trip Info

No visit to St. Louis is complete without a trip to the world-famous Saint Louis Zoo. Small wonder, with more than 800 species represented on 90 beautifully landscaped acres in historic Forest Park. Zoo areas include River's Edge, The Wild, Historic Hill, Red Rocks and Lakeside Crossing.