Councilmember Cohen and Ten Cultural Institutions Launch ‘Field Trip Friday’ for Baltimore Youth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
CONTACT
Zeke Cohen
410-396-4821
Councilmember Cohen and Ten Cultural Institutions Launch ‘Field Trip Fridays’
100 Field Trip Offerings available to Youth-Serving Programs Across the City
BALTIMORE, MD (June 21, 2023) — Councilmember Zeke Cohen, alongside Baltimore’s Promise, The Fund for Educational Excellence and ten major cultural institutions will kickstart ‘Field Trip Fridays,’ which will offer 100 field trips to youth-serving summer programs. Field trip options will feature ten of the city’s preeminent cultural institutions and destinations, including the National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, The Maryland Zoo and The Reginald F. Lewis Museum.
“Field Trip Fridays offers a prototype for collaboration in our city,” stated Cohen. “This serves as an incredible example of city government, nonprofit partners and our city’s anchor institutions working together to solve problems. I called, they answered, and every single one opened their doors and put out the welcome mat for our kids.”
Cohen collaborated with Baltimore's Promise to identify partner organizations who could apply for $1,500 microgrants for their own field trip programming or admission to in-town cultural experiences. The microgrants were made possible by a donation from the Open Society Institute, in collaboration with The Fund for Educational Excellence. Cultural institutions provided free admission for their tours.
“Summer is a time that Baltimore’s youth should be engaged, having fun, and connecting with all that is great about our communities and our City,” said Julia Baez, Executive Director of Baltimore’s Promise. “Baltimore’s Promise and the Summer Funding Collaborative are excited to partner to create new and enhanced summer opportunities for Baltimore’s young people. We look forward to building on this partnership for many summers to come.”
Program providers can select from 100 field trip options. In addition to field trips, some sites are offering extended hours and free-or-reduced admission to parents and students to access as the general public. The full list of local field trip sites and general public options is below.
"Port Discovery is thrilled to be supporting efforts to help provide summertime opportunities that keep Baltimore's youth engaged and thriving,” stated President of Port Discovery Carter Polakoff. “I know that I speak for so many institutions, from all corners of the city, when we say that our top priority is and has always been to support the well-being and growth of children in our city. And by supporting our young people, by extension we support the overall well-being of our community at-large."
“As a summer program provider, I’m excited for the children and youth of Baltimore to have the opportunity to have access to summer programs five days a week,” says Alexandria Warrick Adams, Executive Director for Elev8 Baltimore, a nonprofit which offers summer programming to youth in Southwest Baltimore. “If we keep young people at the center of our decisions, together we can identify sustainable pathways that keep them safe and supported.”
Cohen hopes this program can serve as a model for more widespread efforts to provide Baltimore city youth with educational and fun programming during the summer.
