Prindle Institute Field Trip Program

Field trip groups may include up to 40 students. This allows us to maintain the small-group, discussion-centered format that makes our visits distinctive. For groups larger than 40, please contact us to discuss options for split or staggered visits.

All visiting groups must be accompanied by a minimum of four adult chaperones—one for every 10 students. Chaperones should be teachers or school administrators whenever possible, as we find that visits are most successful when led by adults who are comfortable managing group dynamics. Parent volunteers are welcome as additional chaperones.

Chaperone responsibilities include:

• Remaining with their assigned student group at all times throughout the visit
• Supporting Prindle Institute facilitators in encouraging student engagement and managing any disruptions
• Ensuring their group stays together on trails and in gallery and discussion spaces
• Modeling the kind of thoughtful, respectful engagement we hope to see from students

Due to the nature of our trail environments and some exhibition spaces, all visiting students must be in grade 2 or above. All students must be accompanied by an adult chaperone at all times during the visit. For younger groups (grades 2–4), we recommend a chaperone ratio of 1:8 rather than the standard 1:10.

All field trip groups should arrive via the main entrance off Jackson Street in Greencastle. Buses and vans may park in the lower lot, which offers free, designated parking for large vehicles. From the lower lot, a short wooded path leads up the hill to the Institute—a fitting introduction to the reflective space that awaits. Accessible drop-off is available at the upper-level traffic circle. Your group will be met by a Prindle Institute staff member upon arrival.

Students should dress for the weather and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes suitable for walking on gravel and woodland trails. All visits include outdoor components, rain or shine. We recommend bringing water bottles. Lunches may be coordinated for groups wishing to extend their visit. Clipboards and writing materials are provided for activities that require them.

Guided field trips end at their scheduled time, but all groups are welcome to stay and continue exploring the Nature Park trails at their own pace. If your group would like to eat lunch at the Institute, we can provide an indoor or outdoor dining space. Lunches must be coordinated and provided by the school; the Prindle Institute is not able to provide food or catering. Please let us know in advance if you plan to extend your visit.

The Prindle Institute is committed to welcoming all learners. Our paths are designed to be firm and stable with accessible grades, and the Institute building is fully accessible. Complimentary wheelchairs and gallery chairs are available upon request. If your group includes students with specific accommodations—including sensory sensitivities, mobility needs, or language support—please let us know at least one week before your visit so we can prepare accordingly.

Field trips take place rain or shine. All visits include outdoor walking between spaces on campus and along Nature Park trails. In the event of severe weather conditions (heat index above 105°F or wind chill below 0°F), we will adjust the visit plan to minimize outdoor exposure and may reroute trail activities to indoor alternatives. If your school district closes or issues a delay for the day, the visit will be canceled. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to cancel.

We understand that plans change. If you need to cancel or reschedule your visit, please contact us at least one week in advance. Because we have limited field trip availability and want to accommodate as many groups as possible, late cancellations without notice may affect future scheduling priority.

All Prindle Institute field trip experiences are offered free of charge. We are currently exploring options to provide transportation assistance for schools with demonstrated need. If transportation cost is a barrier for your group, please contact us to discuss your situation.

Visit prindleinstitute.org/fieldtrips to view available dates and submit a request, or contact us directly at prindleinstitute@depauw.edu or 765.658.5857. We recommend booking at least four weeks in advance.

Our field trip program serves students in grades 2–8. For students in grades 2–4, we offer specially adapted paths with age-appropriate philosophical prompts, shorter trail segments, and more hands-on creative activities. For students in grades 5–8, paths include more sustained discussion and more challenging trail routes.

Groups are limited to 40 students per visit to preserve the small-group, dialogue-centered format. For larger groups, we can help you arrange split visits across multiple dates or stagger arrival times on the same day, depending on availability.

Confirmation emails are sent from prindleinstitute@depauw.edu. If you haven’t received yours, check your spam or junk folder. You can also reach us directly at 765.658.5857.

Yes. When submitting your request, you can indicate which of our field trip paths best fits your group’s interests and curricular goals. If you’re unsure, we are happy to help you choose. We can also work with you to design a custom visit.

Our field trip experiences are designed with Indiana Academic Standards in mind, with particular connections to English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Visual Arts standards. We can provide specific standards alignment information for each path upon request.

At this time, all field trips are guided by Prindle Institute staff. Our facilitators are trained in Philosophy for Children methods and discussion-based pedagogy, and their involvement is central to the experience. We are happy to share pre- and post-visit resources so you can extend the learning in your classroom.

Philosophy for Children (P4C) is a well-established educational approach that uses carefully facilitated dialogue to help young people develop critical thinking, reasoning, and communication skills. In a P4C discussion, students explore open-ended philosophical questions together—there are no predetermined right answers. Our facilitators use questions, prompts, and shared inquiry to guide conversations that are rigorous, inclusive, and genuinely engaging. The Prindle Institute’s Teaching Children Philosophy program maintains one of the largest free libraries of P4C resources in the country.

We hold field trips rain or shine, and all visits include some outdoor walking. In severe conditions, we adjust the plan to reduce outdoor time and move activities indoors. If your school closes for the day, the visit is automatically canceled.

The Prindle Institute does not provide meals. If your group wishes to eat lunch on campus, we can set aside a dining space, but all food must be arranged by the school.

Yes. Restrooms are available inside the Prindle Institute building and are accessible throughout your visit.

Absolutely. Our facilitators are experienced in working with younger learners and adjust every element of the visit—from discussion questions to trail length to creative activities—to be developmentally appropriate. Philosophy for Children has a long track record of success with students as young as five, and our younger-grades paths use picture books, storytelling, and hands-on making to anchor the philosophical work.