For many schools, especially those in rural areas or with high poverty rates, transportation is what makes a field trip impossible. Buses, drivers and substitute teachers add up quickly. The good news is that many destinations want school groups to visit and fund the trip themselves.
Start with the destination
Before applying for a general grant, ask the place you want to visit. Museums, zoos, aquariums, science centers, performing arts venues, historic sites and nature centers often have:
- free admission for school groups or for schools that qualify for Title I,
- transportation subsidies or bus reimbursement funds, often paid for by a donor or sponsor,
- scholarships for pre- and post-visit classroom programs.
These programs are often listed on an "educators", "school programs" or "plan a field trip" page, and funds can run out early in the school year.
National parks and public lands
Open OutDoors for Kids
The National Park Foundation runs Open OutDoors for Kids, which funds field trips, classroom programs and virtual learning connected to national parks. In September 2026 the foundation announced $4.7 million for the 2026-27 school year, supporting programs in and around more than 90 parks. Grants go to park units and their partner organizations, not directly to schools, so a teacher's route is to contact the education office of a nearby park or its partner group and ask whether funded trips are available.
Every Kid Outdoors
Every Kid Outdoors gives U.S. fourth graders (including home-schooled students of fourth-grade age) a pass for free entry to federal lands and waters for the school year. Educators can download passes for a class. The pass covers entrance fees, not transport, but it removes one cost and pairs well with a transportation grant.
State parks and state natural resource agencies sometimes run their own school-visit programs. Search your state park agency's education pages.
Local and regional funders
- Community foundations often fund educational enrichment for local students. See our community foundations listing and your state page.
- Local education foundations run teacher mini-grants that frequently cover trips.
- Electric cooperatives and utilities, credit unions and banks run classroom grant programs in their service areas.
- Service clubs and local businesses may sponsor a bus for a specific trip if asked directly.
Federal and district funds
Federal education funds can sometimes pay for trips that are tied to instruction. State guidance on ESSA Title IV, Part A, for example, distinguishes educational trips that support a well-rounded education program from non-educational trips, which are not allowed. Title I schoolwide programs may also support enrichment that is part of the school plan. Rules are applied by your state and district, so ask your federal programs coordinator first.
Crowdfunding for classrooms
Teachers at public schools can request field trip funding on classroom crowdfunding platforms such as DonorsChoose, which publishes its own rules for trip requests. Check your district's policy on crowdfunding before posting.
How to write a field trip grant request
Tie the trip to learning goals
Name the standards or units the trip supports, the pre-visit lessons that prepare students, and the follow-up work afterward. Funders want to see a learning experience, not a day out.
Show who benefits
Give the grade, the number of students, and relevant context such as Title I status, the share of students who have never visited the site, or the distance to the destination.
Present a clean budget
Get a written quote from the bus provider. List admission, program fees, substitute teachers and chaperone costs separately, and show any contributions from the school, PTA or venue.
Plan the paperwork
District approval, permission slips and insurance requirements take time. Many transportation funds also need the trip date in advance, so apply early in the school year.
Virtual field trips
If travel is not possible, many parks, museums and science centers offer live virtual programs, sometimes free and sometimes funded by the same grants. They can also serve as preparation for a later in-person visit.
A sample field trip budget
Showing each cost separately helps funders see exactly what they would pay for. Replace the descriptions below with your own quotes:
| Cost | How to estimate it | Possible source |
|---|---|---|
| Bus and driver | Written quote from the district or a charter company, including mileage and wait time | Grant, venue transport fund |
| Admission or program fee | Venue's school-group rate per student | Venue waiver, grant |
| Substitute teachers | District daily rate times number of teachers | School budget |
| Lunches and supplies | Per-student estimate | PTA, school food service |
A planning timeline
- Start of the school year: choose the destination, check its school programs page and ask about fee waivers and transport funds.
- Six to ten weeks before: get the bus quote, submit grant requests and the district trip approval form.
- Four weeks before: confirm funding, book the visit and send permission slips.
- After the trip: send the funder photos (with permission), student work and a short report.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for school field trips?
Usually a mix of the school or district, parent contributions, PTA funds and grants. Many museums, parks and venues also subsidize admission or buses for qualifying schools.
Can teachers apply for field trip grants directly?
Often, yes. Local education foundations, community foundations and many venue transportation funds accept requests from individual teachers with principal approval. National park trip funding is usually arranged through the park or its partner organization.
Does the Every Kid Outdoors pass pay for buses?
No. It provides free entry to federal lands and waters for fourth graders and their families or classes. Transportation needs separate funding.
Spotted an outdated link or a mistake? Email editors@fundsnetservices.com and we will review it.