Teachers, add a little extra to your trip to Ottawa. Here are some unique programs and useful services to help you plan a memorable fieldtrip!

1 - Book Unusual Accommodation

• Sleep under the wings of an airplane at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum!
• Camp at a group site in Gatineau Park.

2 - Engage your Students before your Fieldtrip

• Download Get Ready for the Capital, a free pre-visit kit with four fun and easy-to-do learning activities.

3 - Be in the Know

• Visit Ottawa Tourism to find out about daily events, bus parking, and student-ready products and services.
• Keep the NCC hotline number on hand to answer questions like “Why are the flags are at half-mast?” or “Where can I find the recreational paths?”
  • Call 613-239-5000 or 1-800-465-1867
  • Visit the Capital Information Kiosk at 111 Albert Street.

4 - Use Technology to Enrich Student Learning

• Attend a special June presentation of Mosaika. This award-winning sound and light show on Parliament Hill tells the story of Canada.
• Ask students to download free QR code readers before your trip. Then, when visiting national monuments like the Terry Fox statue and Women are Persons!, they can use their smart phones to learn more.

5 - Visit a Museum for Free

• Discover the Currency Museum of the Bank of Canada and its programs. Admission is always free.
• Take advantage of free Thursday evenings at these museums:
  • Canadian War Museum
  • Canadian Museum of Civilization
  • Canadian Museum of Nature.

6 - Check Out Less-Known Meal and Break Options

• Picnic under a 100-year-old tree at Rideau Hall.
• Take a break from touring Parliament or the Supreme Court at the nearby Currency Museum’s tropical garden court.
• Eat lunch by a lighthouse at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.
• Enjoy dinner and a 3-D movie at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Reservations: Contact Lorna at 613-566-4235/lsierolaws@mus-nature.ca.
• Book breakfast at the Canadian Museum of Civilization or the Canadian War Museum. Be ready for the museum by eating an hour before opening time!

7 - Explore the Outdoors

• Hike or rent canoes at Gatineau Park (1-800-465-1867 or 819-827-2020).
• Explore the grounds at Rideau Hall. Free self-guided tour brochures are available at the gates.
• Take a walk along the historic Rideau Canal or along the scenic river pathways.

8 - Discover the Unusual

• See electric eels at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.
• Spot a queen bee in the live observation hive at the Canada Agriculture Museum.
• Check out the Canadian War Museum’s Morse code windows. See if your students can read the message (“Lest We Forget” in both official languages).

9 - Take Unique Tours

• Ask about the “Nature Trek” scavenger hunt when you arrive with your group at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Your students could win a digital camera!
• Make your visit to the Canadian Museum of Civilization a hit by focusing on the Student Picks.

More Information

The NCC is always happy to help you plan an enjoyable Capital experience for your student group. Contact us at: