Overview

Researchers have found that visits to historic sites offer significant educational benefits to students, empowering them to think critically about past events and apply the lessons of history to current problems. To encourage field trips related to early Indiana history, the Society of Indiana Pioneers annually awards up to 10 field trip grants of $500 to classes that would otherwise lack the means to travel. Grants also are available for in-school activities – such as guest speakers, reenactments, and traveling exhibits – when off-campus trips are not possible or authorized by the school system.

Deadlines

Applications are due by June 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester. Funding decisions will be announced on July 1 and January 1.

Eligibility

Educators may submit a grant request on behalf of any public, private, or charter school in Indiana. For on-site field trips, funds are to be used for transportation, admission fees, or meal expenses. For in-school experiences, funds may be used for guest speaker fees, shipping costs, and other expenses related to living history activities. Teachers of Indiana history, U.S. History, Indiana Studies, and pioneer-related content in any discipline (literature, music, art, etc.) are encouraged to apply.

Selection

The Society of Indiana Pioneers will evaluate applications based on:

• Applicant’s description of the field experience and its objectives
• Overall student learning experience, not just during the trip but in preparation beforehand and in research projects completed after the experience
• Relevance to Indiana’s pioneer era (1800-1850)
• Number of students who will benefit from the grant
• Financial need as evidenced by school system’s free and reduced-price lunch percentage

If selected to receive a Field Trip Grant, the applicant will receive a check for $500 made out to the school corporation. Upon completion of the field trip, grantees are asked to provide evidence of student learning (such as photographs, written report, or project) to the Society of Indiana Pioneers.

Instructions

Please complete the PDF-fillable form and email it by the application deadline to: indianapioneers@gmail.com.

(SAVE it. FILL it out and re-save it. EMAIL.)