School Trip Fund

In partnership with other area businesses and organizations, the SCD maintains a fund through the Manistique School Systems School Bank to provide bus funding for natural resource related field trips. This fund is intended to foster a greater understanding of our local natural resources, including water, wood products, and minerals, and the way they enrich our everyday lives. We hope the impact of these field trips will resonate with students long after they step off the bus; our goal is to create a long-lasting appreciation for and relationship with the natural world among Schoolcraft's youth that they can carry with them into their adult lives.

The fund can be used by classes at Emerald Elementary, St. Francis, and Manistique Middle & High Schools. Eligible field trips for elementary classes are limited to a half day. Full day field trips are eligible for middle and high school classes. 

The following is a list of pre-approved trip locations, though locations not listed may also be considered:

• Carmeuse (Port Inland)
• Environmental Education Lab
• Graymont
• Hiawatha Shores Landfill
• Indian Lake State Park
• Intake Park Water Treatment Facility
• Manistique Boardwalk

• ​Manistique Wastewater Treatment Plant
  
• Palms Book State Park
• Thompson State Fish Hatchery
• UP Paper
• Weyerhaeuser Plantations
• Wyman Nursery
• Zellar Excavating and Woodyard

Teachers are responsible for making arrangements with contacts and submitting a completed trip request form to their building administrator, who will make bus arrangements and manage the fund. Whenever possible, grade levels at MAS and St. Francis are encouraged to work together to plan joint trips to improve efficient use of funds and promote positive connections. The SCD can provide a short list of natural resource professionals teachers can contact if they want to have a presentation at unstaffed trip locations such as the Environmental Education Lab and Manistique Boardwalk.

Protocol for Teachers:

1. Using the above field trip locations list as reference, make site and presenter arrangements. Include a back up date in case of intermittent weather.
2. Fill out trip request form and give to your building administrator.
3. Whenever possible, arrange whole-grade level trips between MAS and St. Francis.
4. Send a thank-you to site / presenter after trip.

Free Lesson Plans

Agriculture & Soil

    Elementary
​      Decomposition Observation
​      Crops: Growing Problems
    Middle & High
      Interactive Soil Games

Carbon Cycle & climate change

   Elementary
​      What Contains Carbon? 
​      Carbon Cycle Roleplay
   Middle & High
      Carbon Cycle Game 
      Open Michigan Climate Change Collection
      Open Michigan Air Pollution Collection​

Ecosystems

    Elementary
      Backyard Ecosystems
      Food Webs
​      Freshwater Habitats and Species
​    Middle & High
​      Open Michigan Ecosystems Collection

Pollination

    Elementary
​      Flower Anatomy
      Flowers Seeking Pollinators
​      Pollinator Activity Guide

Water quality

    Middle & High
​      Marine Debris Decomposition
      Ocean Acidification

wildlife

    Elementary
      Birding and Migration Activities
​      World Wildlife Fund Teaching Toolkits