How Many Field Trips Does $1M Buy? Newark’s Students Are About To Find Out

NEWARK, NJ — All of Newark’s students deserve an equal chance to attend field trips, regardless of their ability to pay. Now, thanks to a $1 million endowment, the district’s young learners will take another step closer to that ideal, officials say.

The endowment – called the Pi Chubb Newark Field Trip Fund – will “ensure Newark children get outside their classrooms to experience field trips that enhance learning for many years to come,” according to a joint news release from The Community Foundation of New Jersey, the Victoria Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and Newark Public Schools.

The Pi Chubb Newark Field Trip Fund is being conducted as part of Field Trip New Jersey, a program that launched in January to provide transportation funding for field trips to schools in underserved communities across New Jersey.

According to the statement, the program is open to all public, charter and non-profit private schools in Newark, grades pre-kindergarten through 12. Schools may apply for funding to cover the transportation cost of field trips to help school children experience the arts, culture, history, nature, science and college campuses. Students may also take field trips to tour college campuses in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington DC.

“The Pi Chubb Newark Field Trip Fund will provide grants of up to $700 per school each year, which may cover multiple trips,” officials stated. “Priority will be given to field trips that bring students outside their school district.”

The endowment pays tribute to the memory of Percy “Pi” Chubb III, a philanthropist and former vice chairman of The Chubb Corporation, officials stated.

“The benefits that field trips can have on our young people are often overlooked — they have the power to inspire and enrich student’s lives,” said Hans Dekker, president of the Community Foundation of New Jersey and Field Trip New Jersey spokesperson. “Field trips can help a child begin to imagine his or her future as a college student, researcher, artist or leader. We hope that our new program in Newark will help inspire a new generation of young people to pursue their dreams.”

Last year, Newark schools that participated in Field Trip New Jersey included Central High School, Luis Munoz Marin, Oliver Street School, Quitman Street Community School and Barringer High STEAM Academy.

Applications for trips to take place through the end of the 2016-17 school year are due on Dec. 5, 2016. For more information and to apply, visit www.fieldtripnj.org

Photo: Field Trip New Jersey / Newark Public Schools

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