The matrix that schools work within to execute overnight field trips at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center

Abstract

In the world of Residential Environmental Learning Centers (RELCs), our existence hinges on the attendance of students via visiting school groups. Whether a school visits or not often comes down to the effort and will of one or few teachers from each school willing to organize the trip. How teachers and schools organize, fund, and plan trips to RELCs is understudied. This research looked into Lead Teacher preparation efforts, funding acquisition, and compensation, as well as the barriers faced in executing a successful visit to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, MN. It was found that teachers spend on average 38 hours planning and on average received 381 dollars in compensation, though 68% of Lead Teachers received no compensation. They found funding for the trip through piecing together money from fundraising, grants, scholarships, and donations to pay for the trip and major challenges faced such as high bussing costs, lack of outdoor equipment for students and finding volunteer chaperone. How schools overcome these limitations and barriers often hinges on the support of the community, teachers, as well as federal and state programs.