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School Trips

With Chicago Detours, digital media and learning intersect to capture students’ imaginations and inspire civic engagement.

We welcome school groups from universities and high schools to participate in our educational tours, which promote critical, independent thinking and multimedia examination of the events, people and movements that have shaped the history of Chicago.

As a socially responsible business Chicago Detours is committed to giving everyone the opportunity to engage with the city in new ways. Contributions, collected in lieu of tips at the end of tours, help make it possible to share these programs with local high schools.

Chicago Detours School Educational Tours

School Group Tours

Student groups are welcome to join our exploration of the city on our walking tours in the Loop or around the Mag Mile. These two-hour-long tours can be shortened to fit field trip schedules.

Tour Curation Programs

High school classes can work with Chicago Detours to create their own tours. Students explore the history of their neighborhoods and address issues close to their lives now and in the future.

Getting Around

School group tours are walking tours, and we can customize bus tours.

Booking

Want to bring your class on a Detour? Our tours are interactive, educational and dynamic. For high school field trips, these multimedia walking tours fulfill several Illinois Learning Standards. Chicago high schools can experience tours on an honorarium basis for groups of 12 to 30 students. Please email your request a minimum of 14 days before the date of the field trip. Include preferred tour length (45 minutes, 1 hour and a half, or 2 hours); subject of your class; name of the school; and your phone number.

Involvement

Contribute
Your generosity goes towards inviting local high schools to experience multimedia tours.

Guide
We hire dynamic individuals with teaching experience for our tour guides.

Give
We gladly accept your gift of archival media like magazines, newspapers, flyers, photographs, and video. Students can use these for Tour Curation Programs.

Details
  • Handouts for before and after the tour are available.
  • Our resources page can be helpful in lesson planning.
  • No-shows or cancellations will not be refunded.
  • All reserved tours run rain or shine.
  • Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more info.
Chicago Detours Educational High School Field Trip Tour