Whether it was a trip to the local museum, a sporting event or a play, people never forget their favorite field trip. Many experts agree that field trips can be an integral part of a child’s education, giving students real-life experience to supplement abstract classroom lessons.

    Unfortunately, field trips have been one of the first programs to feel the impact of budget cuts in recent years. According to a recent report by the American Association of School Administrators, a staggering 51 percent of schools nationwide reported eliminating field trips for the 2010-2011 school year, a dramatic increase from 11 percent just two years ago.

 

Target, the mass retailer, has a strong commitment to providing local support to K-12 teachers and schools with various programs that help pave the way to graduation though academic enrichment, both in and outside of the classroom. These programs include unrestricted funding for local schools through grants like the Target Field Trip Grants Program.

    This year, the program will award 5,000 field trip grants valued at up to $700 to local education professionals throughout the nation—enabling one out of every 25 schools in America to send a classroom on a field trip.

    The applications for this year’s program are available through Sept. 30 online at Target.com/fieldtrips.