A learning trip

Several years -- OK, decades -- have passed since I was an elementary school student, but I can still recall some of the great field trips I took as a Feelhaver Falcon. The best field trip was the weekend the entire fifth grade went to Spirit Lake. There was swimming and campfires, but also lessons about the Spirit Lake Massacre.

Field trips are classroom lessons on the road. Educators says that showing, in addition to telling, helps children retain information. Seeing as I can recall the history behind the massacre with little prodding, I'd have to agree.

As school districts tighten their budgets, the number of field trip opportunities have decreased. This is a topic I'll be writing about once school begins, but until then, here's some information about organizations that hope to keep field trips going:

The Iowa Arts Council is accepting applications for two grant programs that support arts education, Character Counts!, and teaching and performing artists.

Big Yellow School Bus grants serve pre-K through 12th grade students in Iowa public and private schools, providing up to $200 to underwrite the cost of field trips to attend arts events such as live music, dance or theater performances, and exhibits at art museums.

EZ 1-2-3 grants provide up to $500 to help educators and organizations bring Iowa artists into schools, theaters, festivals and auditoriums for hands-on learning opportunities, performances and Character Counts! programs.

There is no application deadline for BYSB or EZ 1-2-3 grants. Applications are reviewed on a “first-received, first-funded” basis until available funds are depleted. IAC's BYSB budget is $36,000 and its EZ 1-2-3 budget is $35,000 for fiscal year 2010.

Applications may be submitted to the Iowa Arts Council, 600 E. Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa, 50319. Applications, eligibility requirements and additional information are available at www.iowaartscouncil.org.

Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area has $12,000 available through the 2009-2010 SSNHA Bus Grant Program to help schools in Northeast Iowa fund field study trips. The Bus Grant Program, which is part of the SSNHA Education Scholarship Fund, helps cover transportation costs of field study trips to designated SSNHA Partner Sites.

There are currently more than 100 sites offering an agricultural experience for students from Hansen's Farm Fresh Dairy to Heartland Acres Agribition Center to the National Mississippi River Museum. 

Awarded on first-received, first-funded basis, accredited pre-K through 12th-grade public, private or charter schools located within the Heritage Area may apply for one grant per year with a maximum of $350 awarded per school. The grant cycle began Aug. 1 and will remain open until funds are depleted or Dec. 1, 2009, whichever comes first.

For more information, or to apply a bus grant, go to www.silosandsmokestacks.org and click on grants.