Student Field Trip Stories
Read some of the many student Thank You's we have received from hundreds of students who have benefitted from ABX-funded Field Trip Xperiences. Without our funding, they would not have had the opportunity to Xperience the arts or sciences in person or virtually as part of their school learning.
30 Rodriguez Elementary students get a boat ride with the San Diego Maritime Museum
For the majority of our students, this was their first time aboard a boat. One portion of the field trip taught kids the history of ecology in the San Diego area using an interactive land map. We learned how economic factors shaped the landscape and ecology in San Diego. The second portion of the trip taught the kids how to test the acidity of the ocean water and how to use the light depth test. We talked about what pollutes the ocean and how we can help prevent the pollution of our ocean. Providing us with funding for the bus was the most important part of making this field trip happen. Without your help, we would not have been able to even schedule this trip in the first place. We are so grateful that you made this experience possible for my students.
Northmont Elementary School students enjoy the Japanese Friendship Garden
"It's always wonderful to have students experience a new environment. The students got to experience a new culture that was different from their usual routine. I do have some follow-up activities planned, such as diving deeper into what Children's Day means in Japan, and what activities we did not get to see at the Japanese Friendship Garden." Shariana Scott, Teacher
High Tech High travels to the
San Diego Air and Space Museum
“My students received more benefits than I can count! In addition to the lessons we did before and continue to do after, the trip to the theatre in and of itself has changed them. Their worlds have broadened, from that of their neighborhood to one of a beautiful park with fountains, and museums, and theaters, and restaurants. A world of dressing up and speaking in a different register. A world of possibilities.” ~ Ms. Clarken
High Tech High travels to the
San Diego Air and Space Museum
“The entire trip was fantastic and really happy with the response from you all helping us so quickly and providing our students with such a wonderful experience. Thank you!!” ~ Ms. Payne.
Naranca Elementary School
Visits Birch Aquarium
“Students were over the moon on this field trip! They kept saying it was the best day ever and commenting on how much fun they were having. Students loved interacting with sea life in the tide pools and seeing the animals up close in the exhibits. They especially loved the sea turtle, sea cucumbers and sharks. We had an amazing experience with ABX! Your response was quick and communication was excellent. We really appreciate your flexibility with our last-minute change of location. We can't thank you enough for sponsoring our students!” Brittany Leon, Teacher.
“My students were led by a docent at the San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts through their exhibits. They learned a great deal more about composition and 'seeing' as well as enjoying the student artwork section. You are all amazing. You were quick to reply, quick to approve, and made the whole process simple and clean. I would not be able to do any of these types of activities without your organization. Thank you so.. so.. so much.” John Jacobs, Teacher
Scripps Ranch High Students
Take a Photo Walk at MOPA
Ira Harbison Elementary School
visit Casa Del Prado Theatre
Student Thank You Letters
Click arrows below to view student letters
La Jolla Playhouse field trip
Mueller Charter School Students Share Their Field Trip Xperiences
Click the read student letters links below to view them in a new tab
Teacher Linda Libby took students on two recent field trips
Pictured Above: Cast of “Stand and Deliver” - Bayfront Charter High School 2019
Brianna says...
"I really enjoyed learning about how everything comes together in order to make a performance unforgettable.Thank you to Arts Bus Express for making workshop possible."
New Village Arts field trip
Anthony says...
"Thank you fo much for coming to our class and showing different exercises that we can do to create a play. The exercises helped me understand that I'm not just creating a place and a character." Read student letters
Students Enjoy an Educational Field Trip to See Diana
Ms. Strong’s VAPA classes from El Camino High School attended the Matinee premiere of Diana.
After the play, many of the actors returned to talk to the students and answer their questions about preparation, rehearsals, production, and performance.
Students Enjoy an Educational Field Trip to Mars
“For most of the students, it was their first time at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Being able to “travel” through space in the planetarium and land on Mars gave them a new perspective. The students thoroughly enjoyed seeing the space exhibit and trying to fly in the cockpit of the Mercury aircraft and the land rovers! This field trip helped them dream big and get ideas about our new project we are starting for physics and engineering!”
~ Kara Q., Teacher.
Bill Fish
Roosevelt Middle School Music Teacher
The program was perfectly choreographed from start to finish. The narrator’s text was absolutely engaging throughout and seemed to me to be spot-on appropriate for the somewhat diverse age group of all the children in attendance. The narrator’s words were very nicely interwoven with the music. Having the narrator ask the kids sing along to “Ode to Joy” was an exceptional idea, and the way the words were presented onscreen made it so easy for them to follow along.
I especially loved the projected storm images that coincided with Beethoven’s music evoking that dynamic explosion of nature. I think that type of imagery is so helpful for the students to understand the potential power of music.
Of course, the musicianship of the symphony was top-notch, and the 14 sixth-graders in my class were riveted by the piece selections. Especially noteworthy for our class was the symphony’s performance of Ode to Joy. Not coincidentally, my students are working on the piece for a modest performance, so I could see the students’ eyes widen as soon as they heard the familiar melody and could hear the power of such a large and talented body of musicians delivering the notes so explosively.
A career musician can often point to one event in his/her childhood that inspired like no other to point him/her in a fulfilling musical direction. I’d like to think that this eye-opening, inspiring San Diego Symphony experience may turn out to be that event for at least a handful of children in attendance yesterday. Even more so, I’d like to think it might become that event for at least one student in my class.
Thank you so much for this superb program. I hope it will endure for many years to come, and that Roosevelt Middle School continues to be a lucky participant.
Best regards,
Bill Fish
(Sabelle Garcia) One of my favorite parts of the MOPA visit was the variety within the disorder exhibit. I loved how each photographer had a different styles, different
theme, and different way of exhibiting their photos. A major takeaway I had from visiting the museum was that there should be a reasoning behind everything you do. There should be a reason why you chose a certain filter, used a certain color, or chose a certain material. A connection I saw between the disorder exhibit and our exhibition was that the pieces in the show had a meaning. In our project, we had to choose an issue we were passionate about and create a door with something to represent that. In the disorder exhibit people were asked to photograph disorder to them. In both your exhibition and ours people were asked to connect what they knew to create art. A question I have for you is if you have any shows for young photographers. I also wonder what tips
you have for an aspiring photographer.
Tamima M Noorzay
The Preuss School UCSD, Arts Educator, Fine Arts Chair
Dear Patty and the Board of Directors at ABX,
Your philanthropy has helped to create one of the highlights of the year. I wanted to let you know how memorable our field trip to the Museum of Man has been in the culture of our classroom. We visited in the fall as the students and I were just coming together as a community. Of course the students were thrilled to have the opportunity to leave campus and learn in a new environment, but there was also an appreciative mood because they knew people in their community were both thoughtful and generous enough to contribute to their experience.
Due to the nature of our large entourage and few chaperones we split the group and while one batch engaged with the artifacts and delved into their research for their paper, the remaining students went on a walking tour of the park looking for architectural features which have a Greco-Roman influence. As students approached the reflecting pool walkway, they were treated to a musician playing a Hapi Drum; those harmonious tones enveloped the students in resonant union with the beauty of the reflecting pool. We had just begun on our marvelous day, and I already had students thanking me for a wonderful experience and break from their usual routines and life stressors.
Inside the Museum, there was the artwork we were discussing in class, right in front of their eyes! It was transformational for students because they became inspired by the curriculum. To quote Lupita, an 11th grader in my AP Art History class …
“The trip to the Museum of Man was an amazing experience. It was unlike any other field trip I have been on before, from the mummy sarcophagus to the native Californian bow and arrows; it was astonishing to see these artifacts in person. We’ve spent the entire year learning about these art pieces and the cultures they came from. I forgot that these were real items used in the everyday lives of ancient people.”
This student represents the sentiments of each participant in this enriching field trip experience. Although students have access to the steady stream of information in high definition through technology they can access instantaneously, virtual realities will never bring to them what a real life experience does.
We want to express our appreciation for your philanthropy in order to afford this opportunity for us. The ripple effect of your actions will manifest in the success of these students over the course of their lifetimes. The positive feelings created by your fostering of their growth and development is a not a quantifiable yield, but the most important net gain.
Thank you,
Blocks 6 and 7 AP Art History Students
The Preuss School, UCSD
