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Bus/Sub Funding

Field Trip Fund

NatureConnect has partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to set up a School Engagement Fund to support field trips to local public lands and outdoor sites and programs.  Teachers from Bend-La Pine, Crook County, Jefferson County, Redmond, Sisters, and Culver School Districts can apply for the following purposes:

  • Transportation fees (bussing) for field experiences for students
  • Substitute fees associated with field experiences for students

Field experiences can be offered through local organizations such as High Desert Museum, Discover Your Forest, Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, The Environmental Center, Sunriver Nature Center, or Trout Unlimited, or be self-taught by teachers.

**Due to funding limitations, we are only able to fund trips for schools with at least 25% of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. If your school has 0-25% of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch, please do not submit an application.

Before applying, follow this step-by-step process:

  1. Decide what field trip you would like to attend.  You can see a full list of programs offered in Central Oregon here.
  2. Contact the organization to schedule the trip.  Confirm the date and location of your trip.
  3. Contact your district’s transportation department to reserve a bus and get a quote for bussing costs. Please be sure to include the curricular discount with your quote (usually 70%)
  4. Fill out the School Engagement Fund application to request funds for your field trip at least 30 days prior to your trip. We will not approve requests without a quote from your transportation department.
  5. You will hear back within 1-2 weeks regarding your request.

Approval Framework

We have a designated budget per district, that is based on the student population. Within each district, each school is budgeted an approximate amount based on the % of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. Any unspent funds within a school will be allocated to another school within that district in the spring. Funds are limited, so please apply for your best chances of receiving funds.

For questions, contact:  Katie at katie@natureconnectco.org.