FIELD TRIP FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

In order to make the volcano accessible to ALL youth from around the region, Mount St. Helens Institute provides reduced-rate and fee-waived Volcano Outdoor School and Virtual Field Trip programs for schools and youth groups that qualify. Additionally, we offer a limited number of transportation subsidies for qualifying schools attending in-person field trips. Our field trip financial assistance is only possible through the support of our generous supporters, donors and members.

General Information 

• Funds are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.  Each school/group is evaluated individually, based on the needs of the group.
• Financial assistance applications must be completed for each school year: August 1 - July 31.
• As of 2024, the MAXIMUM financial assistance we can provide for groups is $4999 within each annual fiscal year.
• All recipients are required to participate in a Mount St. Helens Institute education program: Volcano Outdoor School or a Virtual Field Trip.  
• Schools or groups must submit a W9 for their organization with an Employer Identification Number. We cannot provide funding to informal organizations.
• You must submit your application prior to selecting program dates and registering.  You will be notified on how to register if you are selected.
• If you have any questions please email learn@mshinstitute.org

Generally, rental programs, and meal add-on fees are not eligible for financial assistance.  Some rental programs may be eligible for financial assistance, given all of the following criteria are met:

• The  group is a school or other youth-serving organization
• The group meets the criteria for eligibility listed on this website page.
• The purpose for which the organization is renting the facility is educational in nature (ex. A school field trip, not a reunion)
• The program includes 2 hours/day of MSHI educational programming.  A one-night overnight rental would need at least 4 hours of VOS programming to be eligible.

Eligibility

• Location: Some funding is unrestricted for location though we focus our support to schools and groups in our surrounding communities and the Portland/Vancouver metro area. A subset of funding is set aside specifically for youth-serving groups and public schools in Cowlitz and Clark counties.
• Age: Some of our funding is unrestricted for age; although some of our funding is specifically for 4th grade youth.
• Program fee assistance for public schools is based on the percentage of students considered low income as follows: 

  % students low income	Qualify for...
  40-49%	25% financial assistance for program fees
  50-59%	50% financial assistance for program fees
  60-69%	75% financial assistance for program fees and/or transportation assistance Transportation reimbursement is available at a rate of up to $12/person OR up to $600/vehicle, depending on the type of transportation. The number of vehicles eligible for transportation reimbursement is NOT currently limited. The number of programs each year that a group can apply for transportation reimbursement is NOT currently limited. Availability of all funding is limited by our grant funding and is not guaranteed.
  70% or more	100% financial assistance for program fees and/or transportation assistance Transportation reimbursement is available at a rate of up to $12/person OR up to $600/vehicle, depending on the type of transportation. The number of vehicles eligible for transportation reimbursement is NOT currently limited. The number of programs each year that a group can apply for transportation reimbursement is NOT currently limited. Availability of all funding is limited by our grant funding and is not guaranteed.

• Youth-serving groups must show non-profit status (IRS determination letter) and provide a statement as part of the application which includes a description of the youth audience and how visiting Mount St. Helens will benefit youth.  
• All groups must provide a W9 with a current Employer Identification Number.

Expectations

EXPECTATIONS OF TEACHER OR GROUP ORGANIZER

• Complete the post-program survey.
• If selected to receive transportation assistance for an in-person field trip, your school or group must submit a final invoice from a charter transportation company or your school/organization within 60 days of your visits to receive a transportation reimbursement.

PARTNERS & DONORS

US Forest Service, WA Recreation & Conservation Office No Child Left Inside, WA State Parks, Honorable Frank L and Arlene G Price Foundation, Autzen Foundation, Outdoor Schools WA, Chevron, Goodfellow Bros., Cowlitz Indian Tribe, and BNSF Railway Foundation.

THANK YOU FOR LEARNING WITH US AT THE MOUNT ST. HELENS INSTITUTE!

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