A major grant will help students in these 83 NJ school districts go on field trips

Field trips, long a part of the student experience, have become rare occurrences for students in New Jersey's cash-strapped school districts.

But thanks to the nonprofit Community Foundation of New Jersey and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, students in 83 schools will be sharing a $45,000 grant to help defray the costs of these educational trips. (See the full list of schools below.)

The grant was awarded to districts in economically struggling communities and will allow students to visit arts and culture sites, historic landmarks, nature preserves, science institutions and even out-of-state college campuses.

According to Frank Belluscio, the deputy executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association, field trips are normally funded through the school district budget.

Teachers and principals will propose the field trips as educational activities related to the curriculum. Administrators will then determine if there is enough funding, and then they’ll put it in the proposed budget, he said. Sometimes parents share in the cost of the trips.

Belluscio said field trips can be anything from a kindergarten group’s trip to the local supermarket to a high school drama class attending a Broadway play.

Pat Wright, the executive director of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, said students enjoy going on field trips that expand on what they learn in the classroom.

“Now more than ever, with the emphasis on how do we apply knowledge in real life situations, field trips become an exciting way for students to learn and to see how their learning in the classroom is applied in a real life situation,” she said.

"They’re an essential component for a positive learning environment that exposes students to culturally rich and content rich experiences outside the classroom.”

Schools that received field trip grants:

Atlantic County

• Chelsea Heights Elementary School, Atlantic City: $658 for a field trip to the Educational Extravaganza at Morey's Piers in Wildwood (Science & Nature)
• New York Avenue School, Atlantic City: $700 for a Grade 3 field trip to Cold Springs Village in Cape May (History, Science & Nature)
• Egg Harbor City Public Schools, Egg Harbor City: $600 for a Grades 3 and 8 field trip to the Cape May County Park and Zoo’s Buddies program (Science & Nature)
• Davenport Primary & Elementary School Complex, Egg Harbor Township: $400 for a PreK field trip to Cape May County Zoo in Cape May Court House (Science & Nature)
• Jordan Road School, Somers: $500 for a Grade 8 field trip to the Coast Guard Station in Cape May (History, Science & Nature)
• Dawes Avenue School, Somers Point: $490 for a Grade 2 field trip to Estell Manor Park in Mays Landing (Science & Nature)
• New York Avenue School, Somers Point: $490 for a PreK field trip to the Cape May County Zoo in Cape May in Cape May Courthouse (Science & Nature)
• Ventnor Board of Education, Ventnor: $700 for a Grade 2 field trip to the historic Cold Spring Village in Cape May (History)

Bergen County

• Garfield High School, Garfield: $650 for a Grades 9-12 field trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City (Science & Nature)
• James Madison School #10, Garfield: $400 for a Grade 3 field trip to the Bueller Science Center in Paramus (Science & Nature)

Camden County

• Camden Community Charter School, Camden: $700 for a field trip to Liberty Science Center in Jersey City (Science & Nature)
• Center for Family Services, Camden: $500 for a Pre-K field trip to the Philadelphia Art Museum’s Preschool Program: Museum Looks and Picture Books (Arts & Culture)
• LEAP Academy University, Camden (Camden): $375 for a field trip to the Youth Tolerance Museum in Camden to learn about Tolerance, Diversity and Bullying Prevention
• Lindenwold Middle School, Lindenwold: $700 for a Grade 7 field trip to Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center to learn about glassblowing (Arts & Culture)

Cumberland County

• Bridgeton Public Charter School, Bridgeton: $700 for a Kindergarten field trip the Cape May County Zoo in Cape May Court House (Science & Nature)
• Holly Heights School, Millville: $480 for a Grade 5 field trip to the Riverfront Renaissance Center in Millville (Arts & Culture)
• Lakeside Middle School, Millville: $700 for a Grades 6-7 college visit at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md. (Arts & Culture, College)
• RD Wood School, Millville: $600 for a Grades 4-5 field trip to Tall Pines Day Camp in Williamstown (Science & Nature)
• RD Wood School, Millville: $100 for a Grades 4-5 field trip to Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center in Millville (Arts & Culture, History)
• Silver Run Elementary School, Millville: $700 for a field trip to the Philadelphia Zoo (Science & Nature)

Essex County

• Berkeley Terrace Elementary School, Irvington: $630 for a Grade 4 field trip to the The Education Program at the NJ Sea Grant Consortium (Science & Nature)
• Madison Avenue School, Irvington: $615 for a field trip to Medieval Times (History)
• Barringer High STEAM Academy, Newark: $475 for a field trip to the SLAM Poetry Contest at William Paterson University in Wayne (Arts & Culture, College)
• BRICK Avon Academy, Newark: $600 for a college visit to Rutgers University in New Brunswick (College)
• BRICK Peshine Academy, Newark: $600 for a college visit to Rutgers University in New Brunswick (College)
• Central High School, Newark: $700 for a Grades 10-12 field trip to PSE&G’s Energy and Environmental Resourse Center in Salem (Science & Nature)
• Girls Academy of Newark, Newark: $700 for a Grades 7-9 field trip to attend an Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Workshop and see Wicked in New York City (Arts & Culture)
• Hawkins Street School, Newark: $300 for a Grades 6-8 field trip to GlassRoots in Newark (Arts & Culture)
• Ivy Hill Elementary School, Newark: $425 for a Grades 6-8 field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (Arts & Culture)
• Luis Munoz Marin, Newark: $700 for a field trip to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden (Science & Nature)
• New Jersey Communities Forward, Newark: $700 for a field trip to Washington DC to visit with U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman’s and tour Howard University (College)
• Oliver Street School, Newark: $700 for a Grade 8 field trip to Club Getaway in Kent, Conn. for a team building and nature education (Science & Nature)
• Quitman Street Community School, Newark: $700 for a Grades K-3 field trip to Paper Mill Play House in Millburn to see an Autism-friendly production of Curious George
• University Heights Charter School, Newark: $400 for a Grade 2 field trip to Princeton University for a college tour (College)
• Vailsburg Center at Ivy Hill, Newark: $350 for a PreK field trip to New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark for an instrumental concert (Arts & Culture)
• Heywood Avenue School, Orange: $700 for a Grade 1 field trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City (Science & Nature)
• Oakwood Avenue Community School, Orange: $700 for a Grades 4-5 field trip to the State Museum in Trenton (History)
• Orange Preparatory Academy, Orange: $637 for a Grades 8-9 field trip to the Liberty Science Center to explore the Energy Quest and Skyscraper exhibits, and see an IMAX of Robots (Science & Nature)
• Orange Public Schools, Orange: $607 for a Grades 5-7 field trip to the High Notes Festival at Great Adventure in Jackson (Arts & Culture)

Gloucester County

• Evergreen Avenue Elementary School, Woodbury City: $700 for a Grade 5 field trip to the Philadelphia Zoo (Science & Nature)
• Walnut Street Elementary School, Woodbury City: $225 for a Grade 4 field trip to Rowan University and Planetarium in Glassboro (Science & Nature, College)
• Woodbury Junior High School, Woodbury City: $700 for a field trip to visit Howard University for a college tour and to take a historical sites tour in Washington, DC (History, College)

Hudson County

• Dr. Lena Edwards Charter School, Jersey City: $700 for a Grade 8 field trip to Washington DC  to explore the Smithsonian and Holocaust Museums (Science & Nature, History)
• Joseph Brensinger PS #17, Jersey City: $700 for a Grade 4 field trip to Ellis Island (History)
• Kenmare High School, Jersey City: $527 for a field trip to see Hairspray at New Jersey City University  (Arts & Culture)

 Mercer County

• Greenwood School, Hamilton: $268 for a Kindergarten field trip to the Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill (Science & Nature)
• Pace Charter School, Hamilton: $303 for a Grade 4 field trip to experience an Underground Railroad Walking Tour (History)
• Grant Elementary School, Trenton: $700 for a Grades 3-5 field trip to New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark to perform with El Sistema (Arts & Culture)

 Monmouth County

• MLK Middle School, Asbury Park: $700 for a Grades 6,7,8 field trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City's Life Skills Exploration exhibit (Science & Nature)
• Bradley Elementary, Asbury Park: $432 for a field trip to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia (Science & Nature)
• Hope Academy Charter School, Asbury Park: $420 for a Grades 6-8 field trip to Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton Township (Arts & Culture)
• Mercy Center - Sisters Academy of NJ, Asbury Park: $450 for a Grades 5 and 7 field trip to Camp Sacajawea in Farmingdale (History, Science & Nature)
• Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, Asbury Park: $700 for a Grade 5 field trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City (History, Science & Nature)
• Early Childhood Center, Neptune: $231 for a PreK field trip to Monmouth University’s Pollack Theater in West Long Brance to see a production of Curious George (Arts & Culture)
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Red Bank: $472 for a Grades 1-3 field trip to                 Monmouth University’s Pollack Theater, Live Children's Theater and Seven Presidents' Park (Arts & Culture, History)

 Middlesex County

• Carteret School District (Wellspring Center for Prevention), Carteret: $400 for a Grades 6-8 field trip to Clean Ocean Action's Student Summit at Gateway National Recreation Area (Science & Nature)

 Ocean County

• Academy Charter High School, Toms River: $550 for a Grades 10-12 field trip to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia to explore the Science of Pixar and Lost Egypt exhibit (History, Science & Nature)

 Passaic County

• Clifton Public Schools #15, Clifton: $316 for a Grade 5 field trip to Veteran’s Memorial Park in Parsippany to learn about native lands (History, Science & Nature)
• Clifton Public Schools #17, Clifton: $700 for a field trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City (Science & Nature)
• Haledon Public School, Haledon: $700 for a Grades 5-8 field trip to the Music in the Parks Festival (Arts & Culture)
• Etta Gero School 9, Passaic: $462 for a Grades 4-6 field trip to Ramapo College in Mahwah for a campus tour and to take part in STEM activities (Science & Nature, College)
• Lincoln Middle School, Passaic: $232 for a Grades 7-8 field trip to William Paterson University in Wayne for a college tour (College)
• Martin Luther King Jr #6, Passaic: $464 for a Grades 4-6 field trip to Ramapo College in Mahwah for a campus tour and to take part in STEM activities (Science & Nature, College)
• William Cruise School 11, Passaic: $464 for a trip to Ramapo College in Mahwah for a campus tour and to take part in STEM activities (Science & Nature, College)
• Don Bosco Tech. Academy, Paterson: $700 for a Grades 6-8 field trip to the Bronx Zoo (Science & Nature)
• New Roberto Clemente School, Paterson: $312 for a Grade 6 field trip to the New Jersey State Botanical Gardens in Ringwood (Science & Nature)
• Paterson Charter School of Science & Technology, Paterson: $454 for a field trip to William Paterson University in Wayne for a special needs class to attend the Dare to Dream program (College)
• Paterson Family Center, Paterson: $600 for a PreK field trip to William Paterson University in Wayne for STEAM For Preschool and Gardening for Food & Butterflies programs (Science & Nature)
• Paterson PS 2, Paterson: $275 for a Grade 7 field trip to New Jersey State Bar Foundation at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick (History)
• Paterson PS 5, Paterson: $700 for a trip to Montclair State University in Montclair for a college tour (College)
• Paterson PS 6, Paterson: $700 for field trips for a Grades K-3 field trip to William Paterson University in Wayne for an autism-friendly production of Seussical for K-3; Grades 6-8 field trip to the Liberty Science Center Community Nights with mentors program; and for Grades 6-8 to Seton Hall University in South Orange for a middle school girls conference (Arts & Culture)
• Paterson School of Information Technology, Paterson: $700 for a field trip to the Apollo Theater and to explore Afro-American burial sites in New York City (Arts & Culture, History)

Salem County

• Salem High School, Salem: $237 for a Grades 9-12 field trip to the Wastewater Treatment Plant in  Warminster, Pa. (Science & Nature)

Somerset County

• Bound Brook High School, Bound Brook: $700 for a field trip to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Downtown NYC  (History)
• Elizabeth Avenue School, Somerset: $700 for Grade 3 for field trip to the Somerset County Environmental Center in Basking Ridge (Science & Nature)

Union County

• Christopher Columbus #15, Elizabeth (Union): $500 for a Grades 1-2 field trip to Imagine That in Florham Park (Arts & Culture)
• Frances Smith School #50, Elizabeth: $700 for a PreK field trip to Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers, University to attend a Storytelling festival (Arts & Culture)
• Robert Morris School #18, Elizabeth: $257 for a Grades 6-8 field trip to the CF Martin Guitar Company in Nazareth,  Pa. (Arts & Culture, Science & Nature)
• Robert Morris School #18, Elizabeth: $250 for a Kindergarten field trip to the Turtleback Zoo in South Orange (Science & Nature)
• Barack Obama Green Charter High School, Plainfield: $700 for a Grades 9-12 field trip to Kean University (Science & Nature, College)
• The Queen City Academy Charter School, Plainfield: $700 for a Grades 5-8 field trip New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark for an Out of Bounds program (Arts & Culture)
• Franklin Elementary School, Rahway: $700 for a Grade 6 field trip for a harbor cruise on the Spirit of New Jersey Cruises in Chelsea Piers in New York City (Science & Nature)
• Rahway High School, Rahway: $460 for a field trip to New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark for a performance by the New Jersey Symphony (Arts & Culture)