Living Classroom Education Access Fund

Living Classroom Education Access Fund is sponsored by Cincinnati Zoo. This fund supports underserved youth from the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Area (including Indiana and Kentucky) with free programs and field trips to experience wildlife and wild places, inspiring 30,000 children annually through free field trips, day programs, camps, and fa…

Living Classroom Education Access Fund | Cincinnati Zoo Living Classroom Education Access Fund Free Field Trips for Qualified Schools Thanks to our sponsors and the Living Classroom Education Access Fund , qualified schools can apply for financial assistance for educational school programs. See details for eligibility below.

The Living Classroom Education Access Fund supports underserved youth from the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Area receive free programs and field trips where they can experience the wonder of wildlife and wild places, many of whom have never has a Zoo experience. This program levels the playing field so all Cincinnatians have the opportunity to have this quintessential Cincinnati experience!

With funds from the Living Classroom Education Access Fund, the Zoo inspires 30,000 children annually through free field trips, day programs, camps, and family programs. Application Details Requirements: School has at least 50% of student population receiving free or reduced lunch. Field Trip has a lesson plan including objectives and standards being met.

Educational activities can include a teacher made lesson plan or Zoo provided programming or activities. Students will complete a post-assessment that will be emailed to the teacher after the field trip.

For this application you will need: Proof of financial need: signed and dated letter from the principal on school letterhead listing financial need of at least 50% of total school students receiving Free and Reduced Lunch for current school year. See our example letter . Contact Information: Names, emails, and cell phone numbers of teachers attending.

Admission Information: Estimated number of students and adults (staff and non-staff) attending, grade levels of students, and bus parking. Education Plan: A copy of your field trip lesson plan, or request for Zoo offered programs. September-March, and July: Monday-Friday April-June: Monday-Wednesday.

Ohio: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Green, Hamilton, Highland, Montgomery, Preble, Warren Kentucky: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Mason, Pendleton Indiana: Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Switzerland All approved students will be FREE, and 1 chaperone per 7 students will also be FREE! Additional chaperones are only $9 each! Approved buses will receive FREE parking.

Additional/unapproved buses/vehicles will be $10-50 to park. If your requested dates, times, or programs are already fully booked, we will contact you for alternative options. You must submit an application for EACH field trip.

Financial aid is given on a per field trip basis. Prior approval does not confirm future approval. Submitting an application DOES NOT confirm your school has received financial aid.

You only receive financial aid for the approved number of students, chaperones, programs, and/or buses listed on your confirmation. Any changes must be pre-approved by the grant manager. Any additional items on the day of your trip will be charged at the regular field trip rates.

Admission: $9, Close Encounter Program: $25, Parking $10-50 All requirements must be met (i.e. proof of financial need, education plan, post-assessment). We maintain records of requirements fulfillment and failure to do so may affect future financial assistance requests.

Ohio: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Green, Hamilton, Highland, Montgomery, Preble, Warren Kentucky: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Mason, Pendleton Indiana: Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Switzerland Field Trips are limited to Monday-Friday September-March, and July. Field Trips are limited to Monday-Wednesday April-June. Field Trips are unavailable in August.

Lesson Plans for your Field Trip can be Zoo provided Self-Guided Activities , or a lesson plan activities created by the teacher. If your school receives the Living Classroom Education Access Fund, all students will be FREE, and 1 chaperone per 10 students* will also be FREE! Additional chaperones are only $8.

00 each! School bus parking is free, but private vehicles are $10. 00 per vehicle.

*Some groups require additional aides to assist students with challenges. These required aides are also free of charge. If your requested dates, times or programs are already fully booked, we will contact you for alternate options.

Submitting an application DOES NOT confirm your school has received financial aid. Prior approval does not confirm future approval. If you receive financial aid, you are only approved for the number of students listed on your invoice.

If you bring additional students the day of your trip, those students will be charged the $8. 00 rate. LCEAF/Financial Assistance Terms and Conditions If you are approved for financial assistance: You are only approved for the number of programs and students listed in your application.

If you receive financial assistance, all requirements must be met (ie. post-surveys). We maintain records of requirements being fulfilled and failure to do so may affect future financial assistance requests.

Financial assistance only covers the cost of admission for approved students and required adults in our 1:10 adult student ratio, and required student aides. Adults over the 1:10 ratio will be charged the $8 admission rate. If you bring additional students and/or chaperones the day of your trip, they will be charged the $8.

00/person school rate. Buses receive free parking. Private vehicles parking at the Zoo are charged $10.

Terms for Free Field Trips & Virtual Programming School serves a student population of at least 50%* free and reduced lunch students. Teacher needs to attach a statement of financial need to their application. This can be either a signed statement from your school principal or a source stating your status.

*Updated 9/17/21 School must be from our target areas for field trips, after hours programs, and virtual programs. For Field Trips and After Hours Programs at the Zoo: School must be from the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State Area (including Indiana and Kentucky). For Virtual Zoo on the Move and Wild Chats: School must be from the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State Area (including Indiana and Kentucky), or any other Ohio county.

For list of eligible counties, see details in tabs below. For Field Trips at the Zoo: a detailed lesson plan explaining the activities your students will complete during your field trip (can be Zoo Self-Guided Activities) including objectives and standards being met. Agree to participate in a Zoo post-assessment with your students.

To expedite the review of your application, please be sure to include all required forms and complete all required questions before submission. Failure to do so will delay the review of your application. Bank of America Foundation The Ambassador Council of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden