**My sister Rebecca (right) and I at the Daffodil Parade. Thanks, Dad, for so many fun outings.**

I loved field trips as a kid. Let’s be honest - no math or science worksheets can make any day pretty darn good.

When I think about my childhood field trips, I conjur up images from elementary school: sack lunches, chaperones, and a buddy for the day (this part could be a downer). I loved going to the pumpkin patch in the fall. I remember dressing up in medieval costumes at a medieval adventure in Tacoma, WA, and learning about antique methods of living at Pioneer Farm. Field trips both opened my eyes to worlds I’d never dreamed of and confirmed the deep longings of my imagination. And then, at the end of the day, there was a feeling of contented exhaustion that makes you want to do it all again the next day, but also makes you want to get home to dinner.

Why Adults Need Field Trips Too

It’s not just kids who get a kick out of experiencing new things. That’s what vacations are, right? Long-term field trips.

But we can’t always afford to take a week or two off every year and go traveling. And even if we can, a year is a long time to go without a change of scenery in order to recharge and get those creative juices flowing. For this reason, I am a firm advocate of consistent field trips for adults.* Here are a few reasons why:

Benefits of Field Trips

· Field trips provide us with creative inspiration.*

· Intentional outings remove us from the daily stress of life that can block creativity.

· Getting out of our normal environment allows us to experience the creativity of others. If we are in nature, we can appreciate the creativity of God.

Tips for a Successful Field Trip

In my effort to embrace field trips, there are a few tips I've discovered:

Bring snacks -- There's nothing worse than getting the hangries (hungry and angry) on an outing.
Bring water -- While I have no scientific research to prove it, my creativity is stunted when I am dehydrated.
Bring a camera -- Even if you're not going to use your pictures, snapping shots of your outing will give you a visual prompt when you go to create. If your iPhone is anything like mine, you have a zillion photos that you’ll never post, but even though they might be fuzzy, they jog my memory and can give me great ideas. (This Canon you can get on Amazon is the one my husband and I just bought. Super easy for beginners to use).
Be intentional -- Pick an outing that will be stimulating to you. If you're feeling blocked in a particular area, pick an adventure that will stimulate that subject. For example, if you’re trying to write a poem about the river, then go take a boat ride, or go swimming. You get the idea.

Simply put, field trips are fun, and sometimes, and like kids, we just need to play. I hope you’ll take a creative adventure soon. Read my blog post 52 Field Trips that Inspire Creativity for a year of ideas. ~Enjoy the journey, Heidi Beth

TELL ME:

What was your favorite field trip as a kid? I'd love to hear in the comments below. And what’s your go-to snack? One of my personal favs is the Cashew Cookie Larabar.

BOHEMIAN CHALLENGE:

You probably know what I’m going to say. Take a field trip and journal about your experience. Share about it in the comments below. I can’t wait to collect more ideas.

*Special thanks to Julie Cameron’s The Artist’s Way for encouraging creative field trips.

*Previously published on my old blog, revised for your reading enhancement.