STEM & Skate Classroom Field Trips
Lesson Options
Our unique STEM lessons bring science, technology, engineering, and math life in a fun and memorable environment for a day of learning your students will never forget. Each 2-hour field trip experience includes a one hour STEM lesson followed by one hour of skating time. When reserving your school field trip, you may choose any of the following lesson topics:
Lesson 1: The Science of Roller Skating
Learn about the parts of a skate and how each part functions. Discuss how different surfaces in the rink affect the skate's motion. Students will have a chance to showcase their creativity and design a new feature for a skate.
Topics: Geometry, Friction, Reverse Engineering, Design
Lesson 2: Motion & Skate Design
Get an introduction to the physics of roller skating by discussing the four parameters of motion - position, velocity, acceleration, and time. Students will answer an open-ended question by inventing their very own skate design.
Topics: Motion, Physics, Design
Lesson 3: Music, Math, & Roller Skating
Learn how to count using the beats of the music played in a roller rink and how the type of music affects skaters' speed. Fourth and fifth graders will also learn how to control the speed of skaters using the beat of the music.
Topics: Sounds Waves, Beats per Minute, Frequency
Lesson 4: Super Sound! Acoustics & Rink Design
Explore how sound waves look and how they travel through different mediums. Discuss sounds that relate to the roller skating rink, including the differentiation in speaker pitch and tones.
Topics: Sound Waves, Doppler Effect, Sound System Design
Lesson 5: Science of Lighting
Learn about the speed of light and how it travels. Students will experience the exciting effects of light through reflection and refraction.
Topics: Electromagnetic Spectrum, Speed of Light, Light Waves
Lesson 6: Heart, Health, & Fitness
Learn about basic human biology and how the body works from the inside out. Focus on heart-related anatomy, nutrition, and exercise while having fun exploring through heart-healthy activities. Also, learn about healthy choices and understanding nutrition labels.
Topics: Anatomy, Averaging, Graphing
Lesson 7: Formulas, Fractions, & Fun
Learn how math concepts can be found all over the skating rink. Measure and calculate skaters' speed, study averages by learning about skate sizing, and identify shapes in the rink space.
Topics: Averaging, Geometry, Calculating Speed
Lesson 8: Newton's Laws of Motion
Discover Newton's three laws and discover how they relate to real-world experiences. Students will learn how force and mass play a large role in motion through roller skating, and by creating a balloon rocket.
Topics: Motion, Inertia, Force
Lesson 9: Physics of Artistic Skating
For middle/high school groups only. See how science, math, and the arts blend together by studying the physics behind jumps and spins, and how skaters use music and dance for artistic expression.
Topics: Momentum, Center of Mass
Field Trip Pricing
Classroom Package
- $400 for up to 25 skaters
- $13 per additional skater
A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the estimated total is required to make your reservation. All students and all teachers/chaperones who are skating are subject to the fee; non-skating chaperones/teachers are welcome at no charge.
Optional Food/Beverages
- 12-slice pizza: $28 each, or $25 each when you buy 12 or more
- Gluten-Free personal pizza: $11.95
- Refillable Pitcher of Soda: $6.50
- Individual Apple Juice Bottle: $1
Sack lunches from home or provided by your school's Nutrition Services are welcome. No other outside food/beverages are permitted.
Discounts & Deals
- Large Group Bonus
Groups of 80 or more skaters receive a free 30 minutes of extra skating time.
- Early-Bird Discount
Be one of the first to book a STEM & Skate Field Trip and get 10% off the classroom package rate! Available for a limited time only; must reserve by by MLK Day (1/20/2025).
Classroom Package
- $400 for up to 25 skaters
- $13 per additional skater
A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the estimated total is required to make your reservation. All students and all teachers/chaperones who are skating are subject to the fee; non-skating chaperones/teachers are welcome at no charge.
Optional Food/Beverages
- 12-slice pizza: $28 each, or $25 each when you buy 12 or more
- Gluten-Free personal pizza: $11.95
- Refillable Pitcher of Soda: $6.50
- Individual Apple Juice Bottle: $1
Sack lunches from home or provided by your school's Nutrition Services are welcome. No other outside food/beverages are permitted.
Discounts & Deals
- Large Group Bonus
Groups of 80 or more skaters receive a free 30 minutes of extra skating time. - Early-Bird Discount
Be one of the first to book a STEM & Skate Field Trip and get 10% off the classroom package rate! Available for a limited time only; must reserve by by MLK Day (1/20/2025).
Schedule
Field trip reservations are available during the school year at specified times. Field trips are two hours long with one hour of STEM instruction and one hour of skating time.
Tuesdays: 12-2 PM
Wednesdays: 12-2 PM
Thursdays: 12-2 PM
Fridays: 10 AM-12 PM
Reservations must be made a minimum of 28 business days in advance.
Before requesting a reservation, please review our full STEM FIELD TRIP POLICIES.
STEM Field Trip Policies
Before booking your field trip, please review the STEM field trip policies.
Reservations & Payments
STEM field trips are for K-12 students and staff only.
All skating abilities are welcome.
Everyone must have skates on to enter the skating floor.
Reservations are required and must be requested through the online form at least 28 business days in advance. Requests submitted less than 28 days in advance will be assessed case-by-case.
Completing the request form does not guarantee your reservation. Our staff will contact you to finalize your reservation.
A signed Event Reservation Form acknowledging your field trip details is due 21 business days before your scheduled visit.
The final number of students and teachers/chaperones attending must be submitted at least 10 business days before your scheduled visit.
All skaters, including teachers/chaperones who will be skating, will be factored into the package price. Teachers/chaperones who are not skating are welcome at no charge.
The full lesson plan for the STEM lesson that you have selected will be emailed to the primary contact listed on the signed agreement 14 days before your field trip date.
Teachers/chaperones must assist with the STEM lesson as instructed by Oaks Park staff.
You must submit a Credit Card Authorization Form, which will be kept on file until the date of your visit.
The credit card must have an expiration date that falls after the date of your scheduled visit.
A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the estimated package price is required to make a reservation.
The balance of your fee is due 7 business days before your field trip date. If another form of payment has not been received by the due date, the card on file will automatically be charged the balance. We do not accept POs.
Oaks Park only accepts card payments at all locations, including ticketing windows, games, concessions, retail locations, parking meters, etc. You can pay for purchases using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, a debit or prepaid card, or a Chipper Card. Select locations also accept Apple Pay and Android Pay.
What if I only have cash?
- ReadyCard cash-to-card machines are available to convert cash to a prepaid card. Cards can be loaded with $1-$500. ReadyCards cannot be reloaded.
- If you do not use all of your preloaded funds during your visit, you can use the card offsite anywhere in the U.S. that Mastercard is accepted.
- ReadyCard machines are located near Guest Services, near the shooting gallery in the historic Blue Streak building, and in the Roller Rink lobby.
- You can check your card balance at the onsite kiosk, by calling the number on the back of the card, or by visiting rcbalance.com.
- Keep your ReadyCard receipt. If you have issues with your card, you can call the number printed on it, and if you have your receipt, a representative from the card company will be able to help you. Unfortunately, if you do not have your receipt, there’s nothing we can do.
Cancellations made more than 7 business days before the reservation date will result in forfeiture of the 50% deposit; funds beyond the deposit are eligible for a refund.
There are no refunds within 7 business days of the reservation date.
In cases of emergency, reservations may be rescheduled by emailing events@oakspark.com at least 72 hours before the original reservation date/time.
Standard skate rental is included at no additional charge. Specialty skates are available to rent at the Skate Shop (subject to availability) for a $3-5 fee.
Personal skates are welcome, subject to inspection.
Spectators are welcome at no charge. Spectators may not enter the skating floor.
Safety & Mandatory Waivers
Roller skating is a physical activity with an inherent risk of injury; you assume the risk of injury by participating.
All visitors participating in roller skating must complete a waiver. A parent or guardian must fill out waivers for minors. Any individual who does not have a waiver on file will not be able to skate.
It is your responsibility to ensure that each of your guests has completed a waiver before your visit; instruct parents/guardians of minor guests to visit oakspark.com/waiver to fill out the required form before the date of your event.
Headgear, headsets, Bluetooth headphones, and sunglasses may not be worn while roller skating. Hats may not be worn while skating except when secured with a hat clip. Loose items, such as cell phones, cameras, stuffed animals, etc., are prohibited on the skating floor. Loose clothing draped around the body may not be taken on the skating floor.
All guests must wear skates to be on the skating floor. For everyone's safety, the following behaviors are prohibited: jumping, fast or reckless skating, weaving, zigzagging, and practicing roller derby moves through traffic. Pushing, shoving, racing, chasing, or playing tag is prohibited in the Roller Rink. All skaters must keep moving while on the skating floor; skaters may not stop and stand along the sidewalls or eat and drink over the walls.
No one, including parents of small children, may pick up and/or carry anyone while wearing skates. Sitting on or jumping over the sidewalls is not allowed, and sitting on laps or showing excessive affection is not permitted.
Violating these rules may result in eviction from the premises without refunds. Report all conflicts and safety concerns to the staff.
At the Rink
Sack lunches from home or provided by your school's Nutrition Services are welcome. No other outside food/beverages are permitted.
Package add-ons, such as pizza, soda pitchers, etc., must be ordered at least 21 business days in advance.
The cafe counter is closed during STEM field trips.
Card-operated vending machines are available.
Food and beverages must be kept within the cafe at all times.
You may bring your own plug-and-play device to play music through the rink's sound system or may opt to play Oaks Park's preloaded playlists (family-friendly top-40s mix). Your device must have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
A live pipe organist is available for a separate fee of $100 per hour; to add an organist to your reservation, contact events@oakspark.com at least 21 days in advance.
Select games may be operational during STEM field trips. Cards are the only form of payment accepted at the games.
The redemption counter and redemption-based games will not be open.
Coin-operated lockers are available.
Sometime in 2025, lockers will be updated to only accept tokens that can be purchased at the Box Office or Skate Shop; check back soon for updates.
The Skate Shop may operate during STEM & Skate field trips as a separate retail space subject to separate capacity limitations.
The Roller Rink does not have A/C. The main skating floor is cooled by a swamp cooler. Rick's Cafe is air-conditioned.
Parking
A daily parking fee of $4 per vehicle applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The fee is payable onsite via self-service parking meters or on your mobile device. Only credit, debit, and prepaid cards are accepted at the parking meters. Chipper cards are not accepted at the parking meters. There are no refunds.
Parking spaces are first-come, first-served, and the lot frequently fills to capacity; do not purchase parking until you are parked onsite. Carpooling is strongly recommended.
The lot is private property and is only available to Oaks Park visitors. Vehicles not parked in designated parking stalls and those blocking traffic flow will be towed by A&B Towing at the owner’s expense.
Failure to pay the parking fee will result in penalties. Rates are subject to change without notice.
For frequent visitors, monthly/quarterly unlimited parking permits are available. Parking permits are only available online.
- Monthly Unlimited Permit: $13
- Quarterly Unlimited Permit: $33
Parking spaces are first-come, first-served, and the lot frequently fills to capacity; permit parking is subject to parking space availability at the time of arrival. Vehicles not parked in designated parking stalls and those blocking traffic flow will be towed by A&B Towing at the owner’s expense.
Complimentary bus parking is available when arranged in advance.
Complimentary bike racks are available near the Roller Rink.
Use a secure bike lock; Oaks Park is not responsible for loss or damage.
You can cover your guests' parking fees by adding Group Parking to your order. You will choose a unique alphanumeric Group Parking Code that your guests must enter at any onsite parking meter on the day of your event (3 characters minimum, 10 characters maximum). Group Parking Codes cannot be used through the online portal.
You can limit the number of vehicles that may redeem your code. You will be responsible for distributing your code to your guests in advance of the event and ensuring that only your invited guests are given the code; Oaks Park is not liable if uninvited individuals use your code.
Within 14 business days after the event, your card on file will be charged at the daily rate for the total number of times your code is redeemed. Each vehicle will only be able to redeem the code once.
Parking fees are non-refundable; no exceptions. Group Parking must be added to your order at least 28 business days before your event.
Parking spaces are available on a strict first-come, first-served basis, and Group Parking Codes do not guarantee access to a parking spot. Lots often fill to capacity on weekends and event days in the summer.
General Guest Guidelines
Please view our guest guidelines before your visit.