School Field Trip Grant Program
Purpose
The School Field Trip Grant Program was established to provide financial support for area schools that are interested in utilizing the educational facilities of Land between the Lake to augment the classroom learning experience. These trips provide for learning in the environment of the subject being taught as history, language arts, the sciences, and the arts and humanities.
The programs offered at LBL are linked with the consent requirements of both Kentucky and Tennessee Departments of Education. Trips to the field stimulate learning through all the senses and are often the only opportunities some students have to experience a true natural setting. Since school systems have limited funding to take any field trips, the School Field Trip Grant Program makes such outdoor learning possible. Making learning at LBL accessible for school children so they can appreciate LBL is a worthy and valuable goal.
Program Background
The School Field Trip Grant Program was started in 2001 with an initial investment from the LBL Trust Fund through the USDA Forest Service of $2,000 and $1,000 from the “Friends of LBL”. This was coupled with $2000 from Murray State University’s Center for Environmental Education. In the early years MSU, CEE administered the program. In 2003 “Friends of LBL”, the Land between the Lakes Association (LBLA) assumed the role of administrator of the program. In 2005 LBLA again was a direct financial supporter of the program with a $2000 donation. Initial interest in the program was small but has grown as awareness of the program and its value to achieving educational goals and providing an alternative experience has increased. Fewer than twenty schools applied for grants in the early years. This meant the available funds were sufficient to fulfill all applications. In 2005 the number of applicants increased to 39 with requested funding exceeding $30,000. Sixty - three applications were received for the 2006 grant cycle with a total of a $46,000 being requested.
For further information application can be found at "Friends of LBL Grants"
Grant Administration
Grant administration is provided by “Friends of LBL”. Schools within a one hundred mile radius of LBL are eligible to apply for grants. The grant cycle beings in November when information about the program and the application process is sent to schools in the grant coverage area. Grants applications are accepted through the application cut—off date in January. A committee composed of the Director of the MSU, Center for Environmental Education; Supervisor of Environmental Education Programs for the Forest Service at LBL and the Director of Operations for LBLA review all applications, rank them based on a set of criteria and determine applications to be funded and the amount of funds to be granted. All schools are notified of the committee decision related to their grant application. The schools make their visits to LBL and afterward submit an itemized request for reimbursement of eligible expenses up to the total amount of funds
2004 School Field Trip Grants
Grants Awarded: 29 School Participants: 1737
States Represented: 3 Dollars Awarded: $16,578
2005 School Field Trip Grants
Applications received: 70 Students represented: 4684
States Represented: 5 Dollars requested: $48,475
Grants Awarded: #Groups #Students $$Awarded
Kentucky 23 1429 9700
By County:
Calloway Co. 2 180 1200
Christian Co. 2 130 700
Daviess Co. 2 134 1700
Graves Co. 9 333 3550
Livingston Co. 1 60 500
Marshall Co. 2 132 500
McCracken Co. 2 80 350
Todd Co. 1 29 200
Trigg Co. 2 251 1100
Tennessee 12 709 9311
Indiana 2 115 1900
Missouri 2 64 778
Total 39 2317 21,689
Ranking factors for applications include the number of times a school has applied for a grant, the number of times grants were received, date of visit to LBL, educational plan for the trip, and the percentage of free/reduced lunches at the school. Each selection criteria is given a numerical score for each applicant. All applications are then ranked on the basis of their total scores. Money granted is used primarily to pay transportation cost, admission to programs, and a portion of accommodation cost if staying at Brandon Spring Group Camp
Funding
Pre 2005 Funding:
LBL Trust Fund/ USDA Forest Service $15,000.00
Murray State University, Center for Environmental Ed. $2,000.00
Total $17,000.00
2005 Funding:
LBL Trust Fund/ USDA FS $15,000.00
MSU, CEE $2,000.00
Land between the Lakes Assoc. $2,000.00
Carry over from previous $2,689.00
Total $21,689.00
2006 Funding:
LBL Trust Fund, USDA FS $15,000.00
MSU, CEE $2,000.00
LBLA $8,000.00
Calloway Co. Homemakers $ 250.00
Total $25,250.00
The following information shows the demand growth for this program over the past two years. This demonstrates the critical need for additional sources of funds to support this grant program. The current partners are at the limit of their ability to contribute. We have reached the point that not all grant applications can be funded and, therefore, not all the children can have this outstanding learning opportunity. Many of the evaluations received state that if not for this grant program these schools would not be able to have this type of out—of—the—classroom learning experience.
2006 School Field Trip Grants
Applications Received: 67 Students represented: 4439
States Represented: 4 Dollars requested: $43,117
Grants Awarded: # Groups #Students $$ Awarded
Kentucky 42 2810 18,223
By County:
Calloway Co. 10 849 4615
Christian Co. 4 374 3601
Daviess Co. 2 120 1425
Graves Co. 15 634 3601
Livingston Co. 1 40 150
Lyon Co. 1 90 250
Marshall Co. 1 40 75
McCracken Co. 5 385 3910
Muhlenberg Co. 1 74 400
Trigg Co 1 150 350
Union Co. 1 78 400
Tennessee 18 1214 9955
Illinois 1 40 310
Indiana 2 117 1650
Total 63 4181 30,138
Funds Available 25,250
Difference (4,888)
