Virtual Field Tripping

This past summer I took a one credit course through Learners Edge titled, Virtual Field Tripping: Exploring the world without leaving school. For a number of reasons, many school districts are turning towards virtual field trips instead of actual field trips. Even though actual field trips are a better real experience for students, virtual field trips provide students with learning experience without having to worry about the negative factors (cost, safety, weather, etc.) of a regular field trip.
I found quite a few sites that will supplement what I teach in reading, science, and social studies  that will enhance student learning. The better sites that I found seem to be more science based but there are many out there for a variety of subjects. Two of the sites I found are from the University of Illinois Extension in which one is about rivers and the other about weather. There are more categories from these sites but the ones I found are tied to components of my curriculum. Here are just a few that I found beneficial, there are many more though.
The All Star River Explorers - http://urbanext.illinois.edu/rivers/
Riding the Winds with Kalani - http://urbanext.illinois.edu/kalani/
What it's like where you live? - http://www.mbgnet.net/index.html
Technology is becoming more and more  a part of the educational experience for students and as a teacher it is my responsibility in helping them learn how to use it. Virtual Field trips expose students to technology, allows for cooperative learning, and differentiates for students in the classroom.
My biggest challenge with it is finding time to go in the computer lab and do more of these ideas with my class. Our computer lab has a very limited number of openings and it is difficult to get in there during other class times. We also only have computer for thirty-five minutes every six days and there have been other things I want students to experience and learn about in the lab. This school year 2nd grade classrooms will have their first student computer station in the classroom. Even though it is only one station, it may be used for virtual field trips, compass learning, or other educational activities.
My goal is to implement a few of the virtual sites with my students and even find a few more. Students seem to be motivated and excited to use technology in the classroom.