Field Trip Funding
Education and friendship are built in the same boat at the NC State Parks
Study NC's vast environmental landscape with a nature hike, canoeing, camping, and more
Rocket your curriculum to new heights at the NC Science Museums
The North Carolina Science Museum branches are located in downtown Raleigh, Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Contentnea Creek, Greenville, and Whiteville
Set sail for learning at the NC Historic Sites
Uncover North Carolina's history outside of the textbook at any of the 26 places
Dive into waterways and ocean conservation at the NC Aquariums
North Carolina Aquarium locations are at Fort Fisher, Pine Knoll Shores, and Roanoke Island
Get wild with animals from around the world at the NC Zoo
The NC Zoo is the largest in the world that conserves and houses animals from Africa, Asia, and North America
Dig into history at the NC State Historic Sites
Hands-on-history is an exciting and proven method to teach students about the past
Inspire the next generation of artists at the NC Museum of Art
Visit a NC Museum of Art Branch in Raleigh or Winston-Salem
Cultivate North Carolina's next generation of leaders
Connect your students to their government in a tour of the State Capitol, Legislative Building, and Executive Mansion
Where else in North Carolina can you fish for a field trip?
Jennette's Pier offers unique field trip activities of fishing and solar car building
Students keep the beat with the NC Symphony
Connect your students to classical music when the Symphony performs in Raleigh and throughout the state
Update on the Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund
Please note that the Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund did not receive funding for the 2026-2027 school year, and as a result, field trip awards are not currently available.
We are deeply grateful to the teachers, schools, families, and DNCR sites who championed this program and helped almost 30,000 students from 95 counties experience North Carolina in meaningful, memorable ways. (Search #NCLearningHappensHere on social media to see some of the trips in action!) DNCR will continue exploring future opportunities to expand access to educational experiences, and we remain dedicated to ensuring our sites are welcoming, enriching places for learners of all ages.
Privately funded opportunities for field trips to some DNCR sites are still available through:
Impact of the Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund | Jan. 2025 – June 2026
Launched in November 2024, the Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund provided 388 field trips to public schools, allowing students from 95 counties to visit DNCR managed sites around the state, as well as the General Assembly. These visits deepened students’ understanding of our state’s history, arts, culture, and environment, while fostering a lifelong connection to what it means to live in, and love, North Carolina. For more information, contact EducationOutreach@dncr.nc.gov.
Field Trips
Students Impacted
Dollars Spent
Counties Served by the Field Trip Fund
Counties indicated in orange are field trips both awarded and projected from 2025 - 2026. The counties in blue did not submit applications. Hover your cursor over each county to view detailed information about how many schools and students were served, and the amount of Funds distributed per county.
#NCLearningHappensHere
The Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund was made possible by funding from the State of North Carolina. It was managed by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
