(NEWARK, NJ) -- The Community Foundation of New Jersey, the Victoria Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and Newark Public Schools have announced the creation of the Pi Chubb Newark Field Trip Fund, a $1 million dollar endowment ensuring Newark children get outside their classrooms to experience field trips that enhance learning for many years to come.
The Pi Chubb Newark Field Trip Fund is a special endowment that will be part of Field Trip New Jersey, a program that launched in January to provide transportation funding for field trips to schools in underserved communities across New Jersey.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Community Foundation of New Jersey, the Victoria Foundation and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Newark students will have more opportunities to go on field trips that will take them beyond the classroom and into the world of history, culture, the arts, nature and science,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “We want to create a learning environment that will allow our students to learn and grow, not only in the classroom, but in the real world. More field trips will help inspire our students to use their imagination and dream big, and we are excited to see what doors this fund will open for them.”
The Pi Chubb Newark Field Trip is open to all public, charter and non-profit private schools in Newark, grades pre-Kindergarten through 12. Schools may apply for funding to cover the transportation cost of field trips to help school children experience the arts, culture, history, nature, science, and college campuses. Students may also take field trips to tour college campuses in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, DC.
The Victoria Foundation established the endowed fund of Field Trip New Jersey in memory of the late Percy “Pi” Chubb III, a philanthropist and former vice chairman of The Chubb Corporation. Throughout his life, Chubb was involved in the foundation his grandfather founded in 1924. For 30 years, he served as board president, dedicated to the foundation’s mission of breaking the cycle of poverty in Newark by supporting projects addressing K-12 education reform, neighborhood revitalization, and strengthening youth and families.
“For more than four decades, Percy Chubb was passionate about Victoria Foundation’s mission to serve the Newark community and he was particularly concerned about the well-being of Newark’s youngest citizens,” said Irene Cooper-Basch, executive officer of the Victoria Foundation. “We hope that the Pi Chubb Newark Field Trip Fund will help all Newark students gain memorable and meaningful experiences through educational and enriching school field trips for years to come.”
The Pi Chubb Newark Field Trip Fund will provide grants of up to $700 per school each year, which may cover multiple trips. Priority will be given to field trips that bring students outside their school district.
Field Trip New Jersey launched as a pilot program last school year. Eighty-three schools from throughout the state received grants totaling $45,000 to experience such trips as glassmaking at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, a poetry slam at William Paterson University, and historic reenactments at Historic Cold Springs Village.
“The benefits that field trips can have on our young people are often overlooked — they have the power to inspire and enrich student’s lives,” said Hans Dekker, president of the Community Foundation of New Jersey and Field Trip New Jersey spokesperson. “Field trips can help a child begin to imagine his or her future as a college student, researcher, artist or leader. We hope that our new program in Newark will help inspire a new generation of young people to pursue their dreams.”
Central High School, Luis Munoz Marin, Oliver Street School, Quitman Street Community School, Barringer High STEAM Academy, among others, participated in Field Trip New Jersey last year. At Central High School, Field Trip New Jersey paid for transportation for juniors and seniors to travel to Salem County to see PSE&G’s Energy and Environmental Resource Center firsthand. This experience focused on helping these students build a greater understanding of energy, environmental challenges, and strategies for balancing energy demand with environmental stewardship.
“Last year’s trip to PSE&G’s Energy and Environmental Resource Center was an experience our students would have never been able to experience if it weren’t for the help of Field Trip New Jersey. Our juniors and seniors were able to apply the lessons they learned in the classroom to real life experiences,” said Sharnee Brown, Principal of Central High School. “As educators, our job is to expose students to enriching and intellectually stimulating learning opportunities, and Field Trip New Jersey makes that possible.”
Applications for trips to take place through the end of the 2016-17 school year are due on Dec. 5, 2016.
For more information and to apply, visit www.fieldtripnj.org.
About Field Trip New Jersey
When it is fully funded, the Field Trip New Jersey permanent fund will provide funds to help school children in underserved communities across New Jersey access the arts and culture, historical landmarks, nature preserves and science institutions, and college campuses. The fund will make field trips possible for more students across an even wider range of disciplines and interest areas. Field Trip New Jersey is hosted by the Community Foundation of New Jersey with support from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Victoria Foundation and other funders.
