Field Trips

3rd - 5th grade Snowshoe Hikes

Grade Level:
Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject:
Literacy and Language Arts,Science
Common Core Standards:
4.RI.1, 4.RI.3, 4.RI.9, 4.SL.4, 4.SL.5, 4.SL.6, 4.W.1, 4.W.7, 4.W.8, 4.W.9

 

The application period for the Winter 2022/23 Snowshoe programming season is open as of October 1, 2022. Funds for busing reimbursements may be available. See grant information below.

Upper elementary students will participate in the Wandering the Watershed curriculum, while middle and high schoolers will be guided through age-appropriate programming related to watersheds, climate change, and winter ecology, among other topics. 

To apply: 
Pease answer the following questions by copying the below text into an email or word document, inserting your school's information, and then emailing or postal mailing your responses. Questionnaires are due by Nov. 4, 2022. If you would prefer a PDF version of the forms you can request those via email or phone.  
  
Email: e-mail us 
or postal mail:   
Attn: Education Technician  
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore  
9922 West Front Street  
Empire, MI, 49630.  

  1. Today’s Date:  

  1. Name of School:  

  1. School Address:  

  1. Name(s) of teacher(s) attending the field trip:  

  1. Teacher's School Phone Number:  

  1. Teacher's School Email:  

  1. Grade(s):  

  1. Number of Students Per Grade:  

  1. Total number of students (the maximum group size for 2023 is 80 students):  

  1. Estimated number of chaperones (a 1:5 chaperone to student ratio is ideal):  

  1. Have you brought students to the Lakeshore before? If so, which program did you attend?  

  1. Is your school Title 1?  

  1. Is your school a Tribal school?  

  1. What percent of students receive free/reduced lunch?  

  1. What percent of students are ESL/ELL students?  

  1. Wandering the Watershed Menu Choice: Wandering the Watershed

  1. Number of Design Kits requested (one kit per five students, students will work in groups):  

  1. Snowshoe Field Trip Requests Dates (snowshoe field trips are available Monday-Friday, January-March):  
    1st Choice:  
    2nd choice:  
    3rd choice:  

  1. Preferred arrival time:  

  1. Departure time:  

  1. Special needs or requests:  

  

  1. Spring Design Challenge Field Request Dates: (Field Trips are available Monday-Friday April-June)  

1st Choice:  
2nd choice:  
3rd choice:  

  1. Preferred arrival time:  

  1. Departure time:  

  1. Special needs or requests:  
      

  1. If you are also applying for bus transportation   

  1. Please include the following and review the Bus Transportation Information below:   

Total dollar amount requested: (see transportation information below)  

  

 

Bus Transportation Information 

Funds may be available to help cover the cost of transportation from your school to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for a ranger-led, academic field trip. Grants are administered by the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, a non-profit, charitable organization supporting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The grants awarded may not cover all of your transportation costs. Money from your school, PTA, or your own fundraising efforts may be needed to make up the difference. Please communicate directly with your bus company in order to provide us with the most accurate cost estimate.  
  
Grant Criteria  
Criteria may vary based on the field trip. Transportation grants will be awarded competitively based on your answers to the above questions. Due to the nature of the grant, priority is given to Title 1 schools.  

  
Transportation Estimate  
When calculating the bus transportation estimate, please use the address. Please also note that the bus(es) will drive an additional 6-10 miles during the field trip.  
Philip A. Hart Visitor Center  
9922 West Front Street  
Empire, MI, 49630  
  
Grant recipients will be notified by November 11, 2022. Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes will only pay the amount agreed upon in the grant award. If bus invoices exceed this amount, schools will be responsible for making up the difference. To receive the funds, you must send an invoice AFTER the trip has been completed to:  

Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, Inc.  
P.O. Box 545  
Empire, MI, 49630  

Materials

Pre and post snowshoe hike lesson plans

Download Snowshoe Hike Lesson Plans

Last updated: October 27, 2022