IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY: EXCURSION GRANT RECIPIENTS EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION

PVF’s Excursion Grant program, funded by the Geballe Family and the Maxwell | Hanrahan Foundation, offers grants of up to $1,000 to fund one-day classroom excursions for TK-12th grade classes in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties.

Each year we receive back heartfelt reports from teachers who received a grant and were able to take their students on field trips. Below are a few excepts from our favorite reports!

We are so very thankful for the excursion grant that allowed us to take our 8th grade class to visit the Chabot Space and Science Center in May. The field trip was a kick-off event for our end-of-the-year capstone project based on the Artemis Moon Mission. This cross-curricular project had student teams define elements of a just colony on the moon and engineering a bottle rocket to launch and safely land an “eggstronaut”.

While at the Chabot Space and Science Center our students were introduced to what it is like to work at NASA. They learned about different types of rocket fuel, built circuits and made protective gear out of different materials. They also attended a planetarium show and a live science demonstration. The highlight of the day however was the Astronaut Training workshop. During this 45 minute program, the students worked as pairs to complete different challenges all aligned with skills real astronauts need. This included practicing communications skills, using tools to test rocks, following instructions in a manual to complete a repair, and being able to complete a task after being disoriented by a spinning chair. It was so much fun!

We also took advantage of the center’s location in Joaquin Miller Park. After spending the day mostly inside, our students walked to the Redwood Bowl Staging Area and enjoyed an additional 1-2 hours hiking some of the trails and playing field games. Thank you so much for making the end of 8th grade such a memorable experience for our students. – Michelle Fitts, 8th grade Science Teacher in Oakland

On behalf of my class, I would like to thank you for the $700 grant, which allowed us to take our very first field trip of the school year to the San Mateo County Fair. $600 was used to pay for bus transportation to the fairgrounds for students, staff and parents. The remainder of the money was used to purchase tickets, so my students could go on rides while at the fair.

This was a very rare opportunity for my students with moderate/severe disabilities and their parents to go on a school trip and experience what the general education classes are able to experience throughout the year. For many, it was even a rare opportunity to be out in the community. While at the fair, we visited the Bookmobile, Dragons Exhibit, Butterflies Exhibit, and Farm, where students were able to learn through interactive activities. Then we walked around the fair and my students were able to choose 3 rides to go on.

We thank you for this opportunity for my students to learn something new, practice life/social skills in the community, and also have some fun to celebrate the end of the school year. All of my students and families had an awesome time and the parents thanked me for the memories they will cherish for years to come, all thanks to your generosity. – Christine Kim, Special Day Class Teacher in Burlingame

On behalf of myself and my two second grade teaching colleagues, we would like to thank Philanthropic Ventures Foundation for accepting our grant proposal and awarding us with $933.00 to pay for the entrance fees to our field trip to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. on May 4, 2023.

This field trip enhanced our second grade students’ understanding of animal habitats and adaptations through hands-on learning and engaging exhibits. We were able to visit the tropical rainforest, Steinhart Aquarium, African Hall, Living Rooftop Garden, earthquake exhibit, rocks and minerals exhibits and more. During our visit, students broke up into small groups and participated in a scavenger hunt led by their chaperones. Upon returning to school, students shared, drew and wrote about their experiences and something new that they learned. We have a socially, economically and ethnically diverse student population, making this field trip a worthwhile experience for all of our students as they continue their education in the life and earth sciences.

We deeply appreciate your support in funding this very special field trip experience for our students as it truly ignited their interest and curiosity in the sciences.  We hope to be able to continue to work with you next year and beyond! – Sydney Mohr, Paul Farnsworth and Rosalie Simrock, 2nd Grade Teachers in Half Moon Bay