Field Trip Committee

by Karen Lin

Jan 26, 2026

braddockfieldtrips@gmail.com

1. What is the main role of the Field Trip Committee?

Field trips committee applies, schedules and coordinates 3 field trips per class per grade for all Braddock students - Magnet, Community and Mandarin Immersion. We are the liaisons between field trip locations, teachers and the school administration. 

2. How are field trip destinations selected?

We currently have an ongoing partnership with Friends of Ballona who provides one of the 3 field trips. Beyond that our committee seeks out interesting age appropriate field trips for each grade. This year we have a committee member representing each grade 1st - 5th. They are able to apply for existing field trips from past years or find new ones. We also get feedback from the teachers and try to keep favorites like Petersen Auto Museum, Skirball Museum, Griffith Park & JPL. 

3. How do you make sure trips connect to what students are learning in the classroom?

We just apply for things trying to get what we can. Field trips will be grade specific.

4. How are field trips funded, and how does fundraising support via SBDES support field trips?

Braddock currently has Title 1 status so we are able to access many field trips that offer bus scholarships and free admission. SBDES often pre-pays field trips but is later reimbursed. We do access funds sometimes when we need to cover overages of field trips -- this was more common in the past when bus rates were higher and were not fully covered by scholarships. An example -- This year we had an opportunity from Petersen Museum for one bus scholarship but we had 3 Kinder classes that would require 2 buses so we used some SBDES support to add the 2nd bus so that the third Kinder class could go as well as a 1st grade Community class. We try to maximize bus space when we can to give our students more opportunity.

5. How do you ensure all students can participate, regardless of financial circumstances?

Our goal is for parity across all programs. When we apply for field trips we always apply for all classes in the grades. If for instance we can only get one field trip to a location we always prioritize Community program first to ensure those students have the opportunity. Then we will either apply again for the other programs or find another location.

6. ⁠What are some challenges the committee faces when organizing trips?

The biggest challenge is that field trips and scholarships are in high demand across Los Angeles so we often have to apply in seconds or minutes to get the field trips. There can be a lot of stress in applying -- like applying for Upstage or trying to buy Taylor Swift tickets.

7. How does feedback from parents, teachers, or students influence future trips?

We do ask teachers for feedback each year and this can impact whether we go back to a field trip or not. We do also take in students' input if it is given, however we do have a list of field trips that every student has taken by each grade and we like to create some consistency in the field trips attended. If a field trip is missed one year we try to make sure the classes will go in an older grade.

8. How can parents volunteer or get involved with the Field Trip Committee?

We always welcome any parent volunteers and are looking for a new representative for next year's Kinder and TK classes. Please reach out to Karen Lin at braddockfieldtrips@gmail.com if you are interested. 

9. What skills or interests are helpful for the field trip committee volunteers?

Someone that loves the idea of field trips for our students and wants to make these opportunities possible. Committee members have strong planning and coordination skills and are not afraid to look for new opportunities.

10. As you think about the future of the Field Trip Committee, what would having new leaders or volunteers unlock that isn’t possible today?

New leaders and volunteers means new opportunities. What I love this year is that we have more members and with new members there are new ideas of places to go. The sky is the limit. We are also learning to tap in to city bus scholarships and other ways to go to non scholarship field trips. We need fresh ideas and people that are excited to find new places for our students to go. 

Below is a list of our members and the grades they support:

Pamela Chang - 5th grade Lead

Karen Lin - 4th grade & TK/Kinder Lead

Jennifer S. Li - 3rd grade Lead

Leanne Noble - 2nd grade & TK/Kinder Lead

Min Yu - 1st grade Lead

Jean Yoo - 826LA Lead

Charlyn Lu - Cayton Museum Lead