The JMU Center for the Advancement for Sustainable Energy welcomes 4th-12th grade teachers and their students to our campus at no cost for an opportunity to learn about renewable energy through hands on activities and tours.
We are happy to schedule a field trip for your class. Fill out this request form at least one month before your preferred field trip date, and a CASE staff member will reach out to you within 5 business days to confirm your field trip.
Field Trip Details:
Most full day field trips are scheduled from 9am-2pm to allow for travel time from your school. The timing can be longer or shorter for your class's need.
Half day or 1-hour field trips can also be made.
Below is an example of a full field trip with CASE.
9:00-9:15 Arrive to campus and unload bus
9:15-9:35 Intro Energy Game
9:35-11:00 Wind Turbine Blade Challenge
11:10-11:30 Tour of JMU Wind Turbine
11:40-12:10 Lunch
12:15-1:15 Solar Circuitry Exploration and/or Solar Lego Cars
1:15-1:50 Tour of JMU Solar Facility
1:50-2:00 Meet bus to head back
This timeline might vary and could be customized depending on:
- The number/age of students
- If you choose to have your students pack a lunch or eat at Ehall
- Specific topic requests: We can alter a schedule to include only wind or only solar activities. If you are bringing students who have visited CASE at JMU before, we can customize your field trip to include different activities by request.
- Addition of other things you may want to see at JMU: Mineral Museum, Arboretum, Planetarium, Science on the Sphere
- The weather/time of year
- Availability of JMU Staff, classroom space, and other resources
CASE offers field trips at no cost to teachers. If your class would like to eat at E-Hall for lunch on your field trip, there is a cost per student.
CASE schedules field trips from September through May, excluding March.
Field trips are scheduled preferably on Fridays, but can be scheduled another day of the week if necessary for the school.
We ask that field trip requests be submitted at least one month before your preferred field trip date.
At least one month before your preferred field trip date, complete our field trip request form.
A CASE staff member will reach out to you within 5 business days to confirm your field trip date.
Other than CASE, field trips can be planned with the following departments:
Additional resources that can be included in your visit to JMU with CASE:
- Science on a Sphere : CASE staff are trained on the Science on the Sphere. Data releated to climate change and renewable energy resources can be viewed on the globe. Note in your request form if you would like to include this in your field trip.
- Mineral Museum : The Mineral Museum is open 1-4 MWF, and can be included as part of your field trip with CASE.
You may also be interested in a self guided tour:
*If you are interested in visiting the Planetarium or Arboretum on the same field trip as CASE, please note that in the field trip request form. CASE will coordinate with these departments for your field trip for timing purposes, but it is the responsiblity of the Teacher/ School Administrator to review guidelines and fees for these departments, and to complete the department's own field trip request form. Both the Planetarium and the Aroboretum would require your bus driver to transport students from the Planetarium/Arboretum to King Hall/Festival, where CASE field trip classrooms are.
CASE reserves a classroom in King Hall or Festival depending on availability. All field trip activities occur on East Campus.
As your field trip approaches, you will recieve an email with details about location and parking.
- Wind Turbine Blade Challenge: Students build a wind turbine tower and test various blades to see what variables affect and lead to the highest energy output. Students work in teams, competing to see who can produce the most about of energy in the wind tunnel. This activity is a mini version of the Kidwind competition.
- Solar Circuitry Exploration: Students are provided alligator clips, various loads (lights, motors, buzzers), and solar panels. Students are given a list of tasks to try to do with a circuit. (Spin a motor, spin a motor backwards, light a lightbulb and a motor). Optional mini lesson on circuits before students begin exploring.
- Solar Fountains
- Lego Solar Cars: Students are given kits and instructions to build a mini solar powered car. This activity works only on sunny days.
- Macgyver Windmill Challenge
- Sail Cars
- Anemometers: Students make an anemometer out of cups, straws, a pencil, and a pin, then collect wind speed data outside with them.
