13 Field Trips from the Past That Would Be Considered Unsafe Today
Take a look back at school field trips that were once normal but would raise serious safety red flags today.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Before liability waivers and strict school policies, field trips were often wild, loosely supervised adventures. From factory tours with zero protective gear to unsupervised amusement parks, kids in past decades were taken places that would make today’s parents cringe. These 13 unforgettable outings highlight just how much times — and safety standards — have changed.
1. Firehouse Visits with Live Demonstrations
Line Knipst on Pexels
Watching firefighters handle live flames and smoke-filled rooms used to be a thrill. Students were sometimes allowed to try on real gear or ride in the truck.
2. Power Plant Tours
Loïc Manegarium on Pexels
Walking through active power plants — nuclear or otherwise — was a surprisingly common field trip in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Kids roamed past high-voltage areas and heavy machinery with minimal barriers.
3. Field Trips to the Junkyard
Luis Quintero on Pexels
Yes, kids once visited junkyards to “explore engineering” or for scavenger hunts. Rusty metal, sharp edges, and no adult-to-kid ratio made it a tetanus shot waiting to happen.
4. Rifle Ranges and Gun Safety Demonstrations
Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels
In rural schools especially, students were taken to shooting ranges for “firearm education.” They handled real guns, often under casual supervision.
5. Amusement Parks Without Chaperones
Nikolay Loubet on Unsplash
Buses would unload kids and tell them to meet back by 5 p.m. — no cell phones, no adult supervision. Kids freely roamed roller coasters, food courts, and haunted houses.
6. Local Prison Tours
RDNE Stock project on Pexels
Believe it or not, students were taken to tour jails to “see the consequences of crime.” They sometimes spoke with inmates or wandered real cell blocks.
7. Chemistry Labs at Local Colleges
CDC on Unsplash
Kids were brought to university labs to watch intense chemical reactions up close. Explosions, gas releases, and open flames weren’t uncommon.
8. Logging or Lumber Mills
Mandiri Abadi on Pexels
Field trips to active lumber yards or logging operations were pitched as “career education.” Massive saws, falling trees, and open equipment were part of the package.
9. Zoo Field Trips with Animal Petting Zones
Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash
Petting exotic animals like monkeys, snakes, and big cats was once a huge attraction. Minimal hygiene and lax safety rules meant bites and scratches weren’t unusual.
10. Old Mines and Caves
Simon Migaj on Pexels
Adventure trips to abandoned mines or deep caves were marketed as “geology lessons.” Poor lighting, unstable paths, and minimal supervision made them dangerous.
11. Ice Skating Without Helmets
Longxiang Qian on Pexels
Whether it was at a local rink or on a frozen pond, helmets and pads were practically unheard of. Kids slipped, crashed, and took hard falls without so much as a wrist guard.
12. Water Parks with No Lifeguards for School Groups
Vizag Explore on Unsplash
Students were dropped off at water parks with few lifeguards and even fewer rules. Drownings and injuries were real risks, but no one thought twice back then.
13. Factory Tours with Active Machinery
Pixabay on Pexels
From candy factories to car assembly lines, kids once walked right beside operating equipment. There were no barriers, no safety glasses — just raw industry.