Hendricks County Parks & Recreation provides elementary school field trip and outreach programs to help you create outstanding experiential learning opportunities for your students! The programs are designed to help students build a relationship with the natural environment of Central Indiana while meeting or exceeding Indiana Academic Standards with hands-on experiences.
School field trips and outreach programs are completely FREE of charge to all Hendricks County schools (public, private, and homeschool). All field trip and outreach programs are subject to availability and weather conditions.
School Field Trips can be scheduled in the fall (September and October) or spring (April and May) at McCloud Nature Park.
School Outreach Programs can be scheduled in the winter (November through February) at Hendricks County schools or community buildings.
Homeschoolers, our Homeschool Ecology Series is held monthly throughout the year.
Group Field Trips & Outreach Programs are available to school and non-school groups for a fee and may be scheduled throughout the year.
If you have questions or would like to schedule an event, contact the naturalists at mccloudnp@hcparks.net or (765) 676-5437.
Available Financial Assistance
The Indiana Native Plant Society, through Letha’s Youth Outdoors Fund, supports trips for schools and youth groups to experience nature in an educational environment.
Letha’s Fund provides financial assistance to school-age children and youth groups for field trips to nature sites or projects that engender excitement about the natural world. Grants are intended to:
- Help with transportation costs and/or naturalist fees where funds are limited.
- Promote youth-initiated projects/activities that connect kids with nature.
The Fund is available state-wide. Teachers/leaders may select nature sites suitable to their location and situation.
Target also awards Field Trip Grants to K-12 schools nationwide. Each grant is valued up to $700. They are accepting grant applications between 1 p.m. EST Aug. 1 and 12:59 a.m. ET Oct. 1.