Orange County Math Field Trip: Hands-On STEM Adventures for Students

Irvine

Day 1: Campus Math Exploration at UC Irvine

Morning:

Arrive at the University of California, Irvine campus for a guided tour of the Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences and the UCI Mathematics Department. Students will explore the state‑of‑the‑art Math Lab, meet faculty, and engage in a quick hands‑on activity at the Aldrich Park outdoor chalkboard station.

Afternoon:

After lunch at the Irvine Spectrum Center, head to the UCI Anteater Recreation Center for a collaborative problem‑solving workshop in the STEM Innovation Hub. The session includes a real‑world geometry challenge using the campus’s modern architecture as a model.

Evening:

Conclude the day with a group dinner at a family‑friendly restaurant on the Irvine Spectrum, followed by a brief campus walk to see the iconic UCI Ring and the illuminated UCI Observatory dome.

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Santa Ana & Newport Beach

Day 2: Interactive STEM at Discovery Cube and Coastal Inspiration

Morning:

Travel to Discovery Cube Orange County in Santa Ana for an immersive STEM experience. Students will rotate through the Math Lab exhibit, the Engineering Zone, and the robotics challenge, each designed to apply classroom concepts to interactive displays.

Afternoon:

Take a short drive to Newport Beach for a coastal inspiration walk along Balboa Pier and the Newport Beach Boardwalk. The group will conduct a beach‑side data‑collection activity, measuring wave patterns and discussing real‑world applications of trigonometry.

Evening:

Enjoy a sunset dinner at a beachfront restaurant on Newport Pier, where students can reflect on the day’s discoveries while watching the Pacific horizon. Optional night stroll on the pier adds a relaxing close to the field trip.

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Estimated Costs (per person)

Place / ActivityCost
UC Irvine Campus TourFree (parking $5 per vehicle)
UCI Mathematics Department LabFree
Irvine Spectrum Center Lunch$12‑$15 per student
UCI Anteater Recreation Center WorkshopFree
Group Dinner at Irvine Spectrum$15‑$20 per student
Discovery Cube Orange County Admission$24 per student, $30 per adult
Balboa Pier & Newport Beach Boardwalk WalkFree
Beach Data‑Collection ActivityFree
Sunset Dinner at Newport Pier$18‑$22 per student
Estimated Total (per person)$1,200‑$1,500 (estimated for 30 students and 3 chaperones, includes meals, admissions, parking, and modest incidentals)
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