WOW on Rails!!!

Thursday, November 29, 2018, marked another awesome day for the expansionary plans for the World of Wonders (WOW) Science Museum. In partnership with Amtrak San Joaquins, the WOW has launched an exciting new program, “WOW on Rails.” The “WOW on Rails” program offers students and chaperones a significantly reduced train fare through the Amtrak San Joaquins’ Kids ‘n’ Trains program. This exciting new effort is designed to offer a fun, affordable way for youth groups and school field study trip groups visiting the museum.

On November 29th, the “WOW on Rails” program kicked off with a visit from a class of excited 4th graders, along with their teachers and chaperones from El Nido Elementary School, in El Nido School District. The group boarded the Amtrak San Joaquins train at the Merced Station at 9:00am. After an event-filled ride on the rails, they safely arrived at the Lodi Station at 10:23am and embarked on a short walk to the WOW’s laboratory for a robot building lesson at 10:30am. Following the lab session, the class moved to the main museum to explore the museum’s hands-on exhibits. The intellectually stimulated class was then headed back to the Lodi Station to board their return train at 1:19pm. Despite a rainy, windy day, an awesome educational experience was had by all, students, parents, and teachers alike, all disguised as fun!

Here are the amazing benefits the new “WOW on Rails” field study trip program is designed to accomplish:

• To offer to a substantially greater number of elementary grade students than ever before, access to hands-on science, complementing their classroom curriculum, for as low as a combined cost as possible.
• Offering the WOW to students from as far south as Fresno, within the Amtrak San Joaquins route.
• Structured travel schedules designed to coincide with traditional school arrival and dismissal times.
• Substantial reduction in fundraising efforts to provide the traditional school bus transportation option.
• More socially responsible to utilize the mass transit system located only steps from our doors.
• Less school bus traffic within Lodi’s downtown throughout the school year.
• “Learning along the way”, the trip becomes a part of the educational process, to and from the WOW.
• Offering entire families the similar benefits to visit the WOW and the historic heart of Lodi’s downtown onweekends and holidays as well!
  

After months of planning, the World of Wonders Science Museum and Amtrak San Joaquins were thrilled with the results of the “WOW on Rails” launch. Several other schools have already booked their trips on the train and are excited to experience a fun and affordable train ride to the WOW!

The discounted fares of the Kids ‘n’ Trains program are applicable to both school and youth groups (grades K – 12 or ages 5 to 18) and chaperones. To request a reservation, visit amtrak.com/kids-n-trains to complete a reservation request form. Submit your reservation request 30 days in advance via email at: Amtrak- schoolsontrains@amtrak.com or fax it to 800-872-3298.

More information outlining how your class can participate in this new adventure will soon be posted on the WOW and Amtrak San Joaquins’ websites, utilizing the pilot program video produced by our partners at Amtrak San Joaquins. Contact the World of Wonders Science Museum: www.wowsciencemuseum.org 209-368-0969