Memphis-Shelby County Schools invests $3 million into free student field trips

Memphis-Shelby County Schools announced Wednesday that it’s launching a new field trip program to give students free learning opportunities outside the classroom walls.The $3 million investment called Discovering Memphis will fund field trips to the National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM) for eighth and eleventh-graders and the children’s museum for first-graders.“The National Civil Rights Museum is a place where students can see themselves reflected in the stories told and artifacts displayed, and we believe that every child deserves that opportunity,” said NCRM President Dr. Russell Wigginton. “Thanks to this partnership and generous funding from Memphis-Shelby County Schools, we will be able to provide thousands of students with this transformative experience.”Beyond museum experiences, third and ninth-graders will also get the chance to engage in nature and science during a trip to Tom Lee Park and opportunities.District leaders say allowing students to learn in a more hands-on setting outside the classroom will help grow and engage in their education in new ways."MSCS is Discovering Memphis and letting imagination take flight," said MSCS Interim Superintendent Toni Williams. "These field trips are more than just outings. They enhance learning by opening doors to a world of opportunities and showing students that the entire city is their classroom."