Canoeing with LOOP in City Park
When it comes to nature field trips in New Orleans, there are so many options! From swamp tours to fishing trips and hiking to canoeing, there’s something for every school or group.
Whether you’re looking for an experience centered around natural history or just want your students to enjoy a little outdoor recreation, this list of our favorite nature field trip spots in and around the crescent city should include just the right one for your needs.
1. LOOP NOLA, City Park
1031 Harrison Dr.
504-655-2770
hwest@loopnola.org
We’d be lying if we didn’t admit we feel LOOP NOLA deserves the #1 spot on this unranked list. After all, we’re a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide positive, life-changing outdoor experiences for children and youth in Greater New Orleans.
We aim to give urban children more opportunities to spend time outdoors and learn about our natural world. Field trip options include:
canoeing
fishing
hiking
environmental science activities
Located in gorgeous City Park adjacent to the Couturie Arboretum, LOOP NOLA is the perfect place to learn about Louisiana’s natural history while enjoying outdoor recreation. From nature hikes in the arboretum to climbing high ropes on Scout Island, students are sure to have an amazing time.
With a combination of educational and recreational activities, LOOP NOLA is one of the best nature field trip destinations in New Orleans. Gift your students a sense of wonder at the natural world while we teach them social, technical, and academic skills in a fun, team-based format.
2. Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour, Marrero
6601 Leo Kerner Lafitte Pkwy
504-293-2338
What better way to learn about our swamps than to head right into them? With knowledgeable captains and guaranteed animal sightings along the way, Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour has mastered the art of educational entertainment.
Students will experience:
a true Cajun encounter in Louisiana bayous
historical storytelling about pirates and Native Americans
up-close lessons on wetland ecology
identifying and learning about Spanish Moss and Cypress trees
animal encounters with birds, hogs, and yes—gators!
Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour accommodates private group reservations for as many as 360 people. Bring the whole school! They’re also happy to add transportation, catering, live music, and additional attractions to your visit if desired.
3. Grow Dat Youth Farm, City Park
150 Zachary Taylor Dr.
504-300-1132
Where does your food come from? On the Grow Dat Youth Farm, you and your students will learn exactly that. With multiple lesson options available, it’s easy to customize your nature field trip to exactly what students are learning in class.
Choose to learn about:
bayou birds and bugs
natural history of Louisiana
life in soil
the plant life cycle
You can also enjoy a general tour of the farm to learn all about how Grow Dat provides food that ends up on plates all over New Orleans. The organization serves school groups of all grade levels and has procedures in place to ensure a safe, fun trip for everyone.
4. NORD Outdoors, Joe W. Brown Park
5601 Read Blvd.
504-655-8396
Did you know that the City of New Orleans provides students with access to free outdoor recreation experiences? Through the New Orleans Recreation Development (NORD) Commission, schools can schedule trips to Joe W. Brown Park for activities including:
canoeing
fishing
archery
nature hiking
survival skills
geocaching
Pop in for their open canoeing, fishing, and archery programs to test them out for yourself before bringing your students. These activities occur weekly and are open to the public. NORD Outdoors even manages a campsite in Joe W. Brown Park in case you’d like to take your students on a unique overnight experience.
5. Canoe & Trail, Covington
19130 W Front St.
504-233-0686 (text preferred)
We can’t write a list like this without including our good friends Canoe & Trail operating out of Covington, LA. While it’s a bit of a trek to get out to the bayous and tour them by canoe, we promise it’s worth the journey.
Knowledgeable tour guides, most of whom are certified Louisiana Master Naturalists, talk about:
canoe paddling skills
Louisiana's local & natural history
marsh and swamp ecosystems
wetland ecology
birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects
Canoe & Trail’s mission is heavily centered on providing eco-friendly, educational tours with the lowest possible impact on the habitats they operate in. They’ll even come to your school before the trip to introduce themselves, get to know your students, and share a little about what to expect while hiking and canoeing in the bayou.
6. Longue Vue House and Gardens, Mid-City
7 Bamboo Rd.
504-488-5488
Looking for a combination of history, art, and botanical wonder? Look no further than Longue Vue House and Gardens. The staff host both field trips and educational workshops for student groups of all ages and sizes. Here, students will see:
furnishings dating from 1942-1978
nature-inspired art
pleasant gardens that bloom year-round
both native and decorative plants
how insects help our local ecosystems
Students can enter the Discovery Garden through a tunnel for a magical botanical experience. Learning about soil, flowers and the importance of gardens for pollinators, a school trip to Longue Vue combines education with natural wonder.
7. Louisiana Children’s Museum, City Park
15 Henry Thomas Dr.
504-523-1357
For a multifaceted outdoor and indoor school trip, check out the new Louisiana Children’s Museum. Located in City Park, the interactive culture and science museum has exhibits for everything from food sourcing to river hydrology. Experiences include:
soil sedimentation table
nature care
engineering stations
outdoor adventures
community spaces
…and much more!
The Louisiana Children’s Museum was “born for field trips,” the team brags. The museum prioritizes learning with our senses, and can block off up to four learning spaces to give your students exclusive access for two hours at a time.
With easy bus drop-off and parking options, private lunch space, and multiple payment options, the Louisiana Children’s Museum is a must-visit on any school field trip schedule.
