First Flight Field Trip Provides One-of-a-Kind Experience for All

As the Ducks stepped onto the ice today, a thunderous, deafening roar erupted inside Honda Center.
The stands were packed and the atmosphere was electric. But here's the thing - the Ducks haven't played since Sunday and won't hit the ice for a game until Friday when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets. So why else would the building be full for such an occasion? The annual First Flight Field Trip.

More than 16,000 elementary students (grades 3-6) from over 170 schools converged upon Honda Center for a day of education and hockey. It's the organization's largest S.C.O.R.E. (Scholastic Curriculum of Recreation & Education) event of the year - this being the 18th running of the First Flight Field Trip. The theme this year was "Turn Up The Energy," and the award-winning educational program placed an emphasis on the science behind the slap shot and those same principles of energy that are found in the classroom.
The First Flight Field Trip encourages students to engage and explore science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) through a variety of activities and demonstrations. STEAM education is a fundamental part of the Anaheim Ducks S.C.O.R.E. program and is utilized to ignite students' interest and passion in these fields.
Tweet from @AnaheimDucks: The sound of more than 16-thousand kids excited to see @kbieksa3, @ritchboiii and @HampeLindholm! #DucksFirstFlight pic.twitter.com/eiwrzGfbA4
It's a unique experience for everyone involved - coaches and players included. Head coach Randy Carlyle is no stranger to the spectacle.

"This is all part of giving back to the community," Carlyle said. "We take that very seriously. This is part of the responsibility of being an Anaheim Duck. When events like this are put forth, participation has to be 100 percent. That's what's asked of everybody. It's demanded of everybody. It's good to see you building your fan base and the excitement these young fans bring into the building."
The field trip was divided into two parts. The "Playground" segment took place from 8-11 a.m. where children experienced interactive exhibits provided by like-minded community members and corporate organizations in the Honda Center parking lot. The "Classroom" segment took place from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. inside Honda Center. This event wasn't just attended by local students and teachers, as some traveled from as far away as the High Desert and Imperial Valley for this one-of-a-kind educational experience.

When it came time to the in-arena portion of the field trip, Ducks players - including Derek Grant, Brandon Montour and Antoine Vermette - spoke to the students and demonstrated on-ice activities highlighting the physics of the types of shooting that hockey players utilize to their advantage during every game. One of the demonstrations was the one-timer, and Josh Manson was first up to showcase the energy behind such a shot. Whether he did it on purpose or not, each of his one-timers sailed over the net and into the glass providing edge-of-your-seat entertainment for the kids directly behind the net. For many of them, this marked the first time watching hockey up close.
Tweet from @AnaheimDucks: Come for a S.T.E.M. lesson and get a prize! @brandon_montour made #DucksFirstFlight more special for this student. pic.twitter.com/XE6E8isZz7
Recognized as an educational event for all ages by the California State Assembly and as a contributor to informal education by the National Science Teachers' Association, the First Flight Field Trip is completely free to participating schools and students, and the curriculum has been designed to meet the state's educational content standards for grades 3-6. The S.C.O.R.E. program is the primary beneficiary of the Anaheim Ducks Foundation. It was developed in 2005 with the goal of promoting and cultivating healthy living and academic excellence to all students in Southern California.
For more information on the First Flight Field trip, visit
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