The Community Foundation of New Jersey and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation have launched a new initiative called Field Trip New Jersey to fund field trips in needy schools by providing grant money, announced the organizations.

Field Trip New Jersey will award more than 50 grants. The groups are encouraging educators in schools with 65-percent or more students eligible for free or reduced lunches to apply for as much as $700 in grant money for transportation costs for field trips to historic landmarks, nature preserves, science institutions in New Jersey, and arts and culture sites.

Deadline for applying for the grant is February 19, 2016 for field trips taking place place from March 15 through the end of 2015-16 school year, according to the announcement.

“When you think back on your school years, you may not remember every lesson you learned sitting at your desk, but you do remember the field trips you took and how they changed your life,” said Chris Daggett, president and CEO of the Dodge Foundation.

$40,000 has been committed to Field Trip New Jersey which will be administered through the Community Foundation of New Jersey. The Dodge Foundation and the Community Foundation of New Jersey committed $25,000 and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation added an additional $15,000 to the program.

“We know that field trips measurably improve the education experience and can have lasting impact,” said Hans Dekker, president of the Community Foundation of New Jersey. “By working together, we can now ensure more of New Jersey’s young people are not only exposed to arts and culture, science and nature, and higher education, but also able to imagine a brighter future for themselves.”

“At a time when schools are facing budget cuts and other pressures, field trips are often the first to go. We can’t let our students miss out on these opportunities,” Daggett said.

For more information or to apply visit the Field Trip New Jersey website.