The classroom is rich with resources and activities, but some things simply can’t be done there. A strong investigative science program depends on providing students with the opportunity to collect and analyze data. Some data can be collected in the classroom, but you may have to go elsewhere to collect real-life data—traveling to an exhibit, some equipment, or some experience that cannot be duplicated in your school. Well-planned field trips are a vital part of the total educational program. They play an important role in helping students relate basic concepts learned in the classroom to practical work and applications in the real world. In this chapter, discover how to prepare your middle school for “the great outdoors.”