EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS. The District United PTA/PTO kicked off its month-long effort to raise $70,000 for field trips on Aug. 15 in a Burger King parking lot.

The rich decaying scent of trees lying in a stately sprawl, carpeting the forest floor, will always drape my memories of hiking through Camp Manitou as a sixth grader. Invigorated and aglow, my classmates and I recounted how to tell trees apart, the mysterious history of Long Lake gangsters, and who caught the most crayfish on the way back to our science class. Field trips such as these remain poignant, with the ability to sweep me away into smiling nostalgia at the smell of the forest or a drive past Carson Park. I may be one of the last to enjoy the benefits of school trips like these.

As of this spring, the elementary, middle, and high school students will have to find some way to raise $70,000 for field trips after the school board voted to cut the district-funded adventures in spring.

These are not the run-of-the-mill trips to Valley Fair or end of school year outings; rather, these are the rites of passage. The Eau Claire Children’s Museum, the Chippewa Valley Museum, Beaver Creek Reserve, Camp Manitou. All of these curriculum-approved and educational trips are no longer supported by the budget, and depend on individual schools for funding. A group of dedicated parents and community members are striving to rectify this gaping abyss. 

Lesley Sauls is a founding member of te District United PTA/PTO who is hoping to raise the funds in just one month. Their kickoff on August 15 was the beginning of a campaign that is designed to garner donations, large and small, for the purpose of providing every child with the chance to learn and explore places they may never visit again.

Sauls points out that the combined effort came from the unfortunate fact that many students in poorer neighborhoods would not have a PTA/PTO able to provide funding. “Field trips involve the kids in the museums, teaches them about ecology and nature, and exposes them to something good. Every child has the right to experience them,” she said.

    With $11,280 already donated from various community members (notably the owners of Burger King who matched the first $5,000), the group has earned a significant percentage of the final goal of $70,000. Committee Treasurer Shannon Young is encouraged by the energy and support of the community noting, “This gives us a good start. ... Hopefully after the kickoff we will we be having even better success. Every little bit helps.”

In addition to the tax-deductible donations, members of the community can also participate by donating a dollar for paper school buses at various locations or donating to jars around town. 

The relationship with the school board and PTA/PTO remains deliberately separate; the money raised will be given to the district with the legal stipulation that it is only for field trips. Superintendent Ron Heilmann stated, “The Eau Claire Area School District is hopeful that dollars can be raised to sustain these types of learning experiences for all students pre K-12.  Given that the local school district budget picture does not get any better in the near future due to the state budget parameters, I hope that everyone understands that these efforts would need to continue into the future.” 

The PTA/PTO is prepared to continue its efforts because above and beyond everything is the needs of the children, and these are more important than the controversy that continually surrounds district and school board. 

Children and their education are the foundation, goal, and driving force of this organization. Logo designer Kris Erickson sums up the simple cause, saying, “We didn’t want any kids to fall through the cracks.” 

Young agrees. “This is about the kids, these field trips are for them and we wanted to make sure every student is included.” Their logo, a yellow school bus, is a symbol of the knowledge, joy, and priceless experience that each and every child, myself included, discovers on school field trips.