The Anaheim Ducks will host their largest S.C.O.R.E. (Scholastic Curriculum of Recreation & Education) program event of the year: the First Flight Field Trip. Nearly 13,000 elementary students (grades 3-6) from 160 schools will converge upon Honda Center this Thursday, Feb. 28 for a day of education and hockey, with this year’s theme entitled “Turn up the Energy.” The award-winning learning program will work with children to explore components of energy as exemplified through the Anaheim Ducks players, who will speak to students and demonstrate on-ice examples of the event’s theme. The field trip will then conclude with a fun-filled skills competition. The field trip is divided into two parts: the “Playground” segment will take place from 8-10:30 a.m. in which children can experience properties of energy through interactive exhibits in the Honda Center parking lot; and the “Classroom” segment will take place from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in Honda Center’s arena bowl. Students and teachers are traveling from as far away as Yermo, Temecula and Victorville for this one-of-a-kind educational experience.

A LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S EVENT

During the First Flight Field Trip, students will refer to a workbook which explores how players use energy and its properties to outplay their opponents on the ice. With a combination of the First Flight workbook and live interviews with players, students will learn about stored [potential] energy in objects, including the food Ducks players eat and understanding how [kinetic] energy helps with their on-ice skills. Both live and taped segments from players and coaches will appear on the HondaVision scoreboard during practice, which will help to reveal answers to workbook questions.

In addition, the Ducks have partnered with many local educational organizations and corporations to present 45 hands-on exhibits that supplement lessons found in the First Flight workbook (a complete list of participants is included below). From 8-10:30 a.m., students will have the opportunity to participate in “Playground” activity points that help to demonstrate the “Turn up the Energy” theme in the Honda Center parking lot. Approximately 225 volunteers are scheduled to assist students with educational instruction on the “Playground.”

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. Representatives from U.S. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez's office, State Assemblyman Tom Daly's office, State Senator Lou Correa's office and Anaheim City Councilman Jordan Brandman will be on hand Thursday to recognize the Anaheim Ducks for its S.C.O.R.E. program. The S.C.O.R.E. program 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 regarding the First Flight Field Trip, please visit DucksScore.com.

The following educational organizations, corporations and volunteer groups have helped to make the First Flight Field Trip possible:

• Honda
• Microsoft and the Microsoft Store at South Coast Plaza
• NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab
• Whole Foods Tustin
• Orange County Department of Education
• Discovery Science Center
• Cal State Fullerton College of Education and Student Recreation Center
• Office of State Senator Lou Correa
• BMX Pros
• Junior League of Orange County
• Cal State University, Los Angeles
• Cal State University, Fullerton
• Cal State University, San Bernardino
• University of La Verne
• UC Riverside
• freecreditscore.com.