Visits to historic sites offer significant educational benefits to elementary and secondary school students, helping them think critically about past events and apply history lessons to current problems.

To encourage field trips related to early Indiana history, the Society of Indiana Pioneers annually awards up to ten field trip grants of $500 to classes that otherwise lack the means to travel. Grants are also available for in-school activities – such as guest speakers, reenactments, and traveling exhibits – when the students’ school doesn’t allow travel for off-campus trips.

Deadlines

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

Eligibility

Educators may request grants for any Indiana public, private, or charter school. For on-site field trips, funds are used for transportation, admission fees, or meal expenses. For in-school experiences, funds are 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:

• The applicant’s description of the field experience and its objectives;
• The overall student learning experience, not just during the event but in pre-event preparation and research projects completed after the experience;
• The event’s relevance to Indiana’s pioneer era, from 1800 to 1850;
• The number of students who will benefit from the grant;
• The demonstrated financial need, based on the school’s percentage of students receiving free and reduced-price lunch.

If selected to receive a Society of Indiana Pioneers 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 reports, or post-event projects) to the Society of Indiana Pioneers.

How to apply

Please download and complete the Field Trip Grant application and email it by the application deadline to indianapioneers@gmail.com.