On three midweek days in the month of May, the gates at FirstEnergy Stadium are open before noon. Scores of children file in, chatting excitedly as they make their way through the halls of Reading’s historic ballpark.
Education Days at FirstEnergy Stadium provide a special atmosphere. The adults in the stands are outnumbered by Elementary and Middle School-aged children. The cheers are always louder.
“The excitement level in the ballpark on Education Days is unmatched. You can feel it in the air as the first buses arrive in the morning,” says Fightins Chief Director of Promotions Todd Hunsicker. “Thousands of students from across the region have been working hard in the classroom all year, and this field trip represents an opportunity to reward and celebrate their achievements.”
The Fightin Phils will host three Education Days during the 2020 season, with the first on Tuesday, May 12th at 12 p.m. against the Trenton Thunder. The second will take place on Wednesday, May 20th at 12 p.m. vs. the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, and the final one will be vs. New Hampshire on Thursday, May 21st at 11:35 a.m.
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Education Days not only offer a chance for local children to enjoy a baseball game with their classmates, but also provide a great opportunity to make connections between classroom learning and real-world examples.
Gameday features include a standards-based activity guide for teachers that highlights key concepts across grade levels and subject areas, a worksheet for students that keeps them engaged and focused on activities throughout their visit to the ballpark, an on-field academic challenge, and educational presentations from organizations such as the Lehigh Valley Zoo, Reading Public Museum, PSU Berks Chemical Society, and more.
Among the most popular pregame educational presentations is one from the PSU Berks Chemical Society. In a demonstration of the power and energy that can be released when substances quickly change from a liquid to a gas, PSU Berks uses liquid nitrogen to dramatically launch hundreds of ping pong balls high above FirstEnergy Stadium.
“These types of large-scale demonstrations are impossible to achieve in the classroom, but I’m thrilled we can provide such an attention-grabbing science demo for the Education Day school groups at our ballpark,” Hunsicker says.
Throughout the game, students enjoy singing and dancing to their favorite songs, trying to catch hot dogs from the ostrich-riding Crazy Hot Dog Vendor, rooting for their favorite contestant in the Vegetable Race, and other countless fun-filled activities at America’s Classic Ballpark.
Prior to the game, students also have the chance to hear from a pair of Fightin Phils players on their journeys in the game of baseball, and even take part in a Q&A session.
Tickets are only $8 per student, with an option of adding a bagged lunch for a total of $12.
“The R-Phils have been hosting field trip games for over 20 years, and are proud to offer the best field trip experience in Berks County,” Hunsicker says. “From the reservation process, to the experience at the game, until the final bus departs, we are dedicated to making every school’s experience as smooth and rewarding as possible.”
Schools interested in scheduling a class field trip to FirstEnergy Stadium can contact the R-Phils Chief Director of Promotions Todd Hunsicker by email at thunsicker@fightins.com, or by calling 610-375-8469, ext. 206.
2020 R-Phils Education Days:
Tuesday, May 12th – 12 p.m. vs. Trenton
Wednesday, May 20th – 12 p.m. vs New Hampshire
Thursday, May 21st – 11:35 a.m. vs New Hampshire
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.