Financial Help for Field Trips

Science Museum Bus Subsidy Program

An anonymous donor, committed to the value of a Science Museum field trip, has arranged for two kinds of bus subsidies to help cover transportation expenses to the museum. The first is for schools with 50% of students eligible for free/reduced price school meals: up to $200 per school, and the second is for schools located more than 100 miles from the museum: up to $400 per school.

Bus Subsidy Funding Available for 2011-2012 School Year
Limited funding is available to offset the transportation cost of a field trip to the Science Museum of Minnesota. The subsidy supports field trips to the museum occurring between September 15, 2011 and May 18, 2012. Grants will be given on a first-application-received basis until funds are gone. Payment from the museum will be made in the form of a reimbursement to the district or school after the field trip has occurred.

Eligibility
United States schools that fall into one of the two following categories are eligible to apply for funding, one grant per school. Schools in the Upper Midwest are encouraged to apply. Grants will be disbursed until the money is gone.

1. $200 for schools whose student population consists of 50% or more of students eligible for free or reducedprice school meals (F/RP). OR

2. $400 for schools located 100 miles or more from the museum.

To Apply

• Call (651) 221-9444 to make a field trip reservation. Reservations can be made pending approval of scholarship.
• Download the application and fax it to (651) 221-4533. The completed application must include the field trip reservation number, date, and number of students.
• Educators will be notified of status within two weeks of submission.
• After the fieldtrip, fax a payment request to (651) 221-4533. The request must be received by June 1, 2012 and be accompanied by a photocopy showing proof of payment to the bus company for the field trip.
• Reimbursement checks will be processed beginning February 6, 2012.

This bus subsidy funding is made possible because of one-time funding from an anonymous donor for the 2011-2012 school year.

Target Field Trip Grants

Target will award 5,000 grants up to $800 each for field trips. Complete an application online anytime before September 30, 2011.

ELM Grant Program

Environmental Learning in Minnesota (ELM) will be distributing a total of $15,000—up to $1,500 per project—through the School Grant program for PreK-12 classroom projects that may include indoor/outdoor classroom activities, supplies and materials, transportation costs, and field trips.

Local Community Sources

Parent Teacher organizations, local businesses, and community organizations are also good places to look for support.