On Oct. 1, the doors to the Smithsonian museums and National Zoo closed due to the federal government shutdown, leaving educators scrambling to replace field trips that supported classroom lessons.
The shutdown last month has caused ripple effects far beyond just the Washington area and those directly working with the government. At Poolesville High School, students and teachers are feeling the impact firsthand, as planned field trips to federally funded institutions, like the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo, have been changed or postponed.
“The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, like all Smithsonian museums, receives federal funding,” according to the Smithsonian’s official FAQ page. “Thus, during a government shutdown, the Zoo — and the rest of the Smithsonian museums — must close to the public.”
For many students, these trips are more than just a day away from the classroom, but are critical for hands-on learning. “Our [AP Environmental Science] class under [Ms. Terese Robichaud] was supposed to visit different Smithsonian museums to learn more about the environment through real life interactions,” said junior Lizzy Reed. “Losing that experience means that I am missing out on what I had looked forward to this school year.”
Robichaud said she is determined to keep learning meaningful, however.
“I will not let it deter my plans to schedule outdoor classroom learning — I’ll work with organizations or design field trips that allow us to learn outside of the traditional classroom setting,” said Robichaud.
One major trip had already been altered.
“My APES students were scheduled to visit the National Art Gallery…We were unable to attend due to the shutdown, so I modified the field trip to a hike around the Tidal Basin, focusing on sustainable urban development practices,” she said.
Though the purpose changed, she noted that “it all worked out in the end.”
The Smithsonian Institution announced that all of its museums and research centers would close on Oct. 12, after prior funding was used up. While Congress continues to debate the federal budget, students and teachers are finding new ways to keep their lessons meaningful throughout all these changes.
Ms. Erin Binns, head of the Global Ecology program, explained that while the shutdown hasn’t completely derailed trips yet, the uncertainty is challenging.
“It hasn’t yet impacted field trips, but if it continues it definitely will.” she said. “The Global teachers are making arrangements for alternate trip locations that are still relevant to what we’re covering in class. Some trips, however, are really valuable- Capitol Hill and the Archives trips, for example- and are really difficult to replace.”
Binns added that communication with parents and students will happen through Canvas and Synergy if plans change. She and other staff are preparing alternate trips and lessons to maintain learning continuity.
“We’ve been meeting to plan great alternate trips, if necessary.” she said. “We’re always very flexible. We had to think of creative in class and virtual field studies during Covid.”
Teachers are now adapting lesson plans to make up for lost opportunities, using online museum resources and local centers to maintain engagement. Though the changes have caused disappointment, educators remain optimistic that meaningful learning will continue.
