Field Trips

All SARC field trips include a classroom session where the students learn the basics of aquaponics, then move out to the SARC greenhouse for the full experience. They’ll get to see our aquaculture & hydroponics systems, meet the fish, and see first-hand the effects a recirculating system has on water retention! Field trips can also include lunch at the Armstrong Campus Galley, a short campus tour, and a tour of the Biology Department greenhouse. Longer campus tours are available if desired!

We’re also happy to customize our aquaponics discussions toward topics of interest to your class – a focus on sustainability, nutrition, ecology, or the scientific process is common!

• Weekday fieldtrips are $5 per student (no lunch) $15 (with lunch)
• Weekend fieldtrips are $10 per student (no lunch) $20 (with lunch)

Contact the Director or Curator if you would like to discuss a field trip for your group!

Unable to visit in person? Virtual class meetings are available too, especially if your class has their own aquaponics system they want to chat about.

Overview

Can you grow floating food with fish poop? We do! Students will learn about the integrated agricultural ecosystem that is aquaponics via a short lecture & activity. They’ll finish up by touring our 7,000+ gallon research system in the greenhouse, including ~8 lb tilapia! 

Example Agenda: Field Trip for [Your School Here!]

• Intro to aquaponics
  (Lecture and activity about aquaponics)
• Tour SARC aquaponics facility
  (See and learn about our replicated 7,000+ gallon research system in the greenhouse, including renovations that are underway)
• Tour biology greenhouse
  (Biology department specimens and botany research)
• Lunch at the Galley!
  Armstrong Campus Galley Meals Request Form (Submit to SARC Curator 1 week before field trip)
• Tour of Armstrong Campus
  (See highlights on campus, including the International Garden and species of interest in the Armstrong Campus arboretum)

Attire: 

Shoes appropriate for walking on coarse gravel in a greenhouse and on the tour around campus.

Potential Learning Outcomes from SARC Field Trips

General

• What is aquaculture? Hydroponics? A biofilter?
• How does a greenhouse work?
• Where does our food come from?
• What is sustainable agriculture?
• What is a food desert?
• What can be grown using aquaponics?
• Why is aquaponics more sustainable?
• How is aquaponics an ecosystem?
• What is replication using independent systems?
• How do scientists monitoring environmental and water quality parameters?

Hydroponics

• What is hydroponics?
• How do you care for plants in a greenhouse?
• What is a pest? A pathogen? Integrated pest management?
• What is biomass?
• How do farmers plant seeds for growing in water?
• When are various vegetables in season?
• What nutritional deficiencies can plants have?
• How do you fertilize in hydroponics/aquaponics?

Aquaculture

• What is aquaculture?
• How does a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) work?
• How do you properly care for fish? What is fish husbandry?
• What water quality are needed for various fish
• How do you tell when a fish is sick?
• Can you raise fish eggs/fry?
• What is the purpose of including the fish?

Last updated: 10/3/2022