our East Baton Rouge Parish School System teachers, Melissa Morissey of Audubon Elementary School, Ellen Floyd of Jefferson Terrace Elementary School, Mark Zwieg of Glasgow Middle Science and Genedi Shamburger of Woodlawn High School, each were awarded a $700 Target Field Trip Grant. The grants will allow the teachers to use the valuable experiential learning gained from field trips to enhance students’ classroom studies.  

Morissey and Floyd plan to use their grants to take 75 Audubon Elementary first graders and 105 Jefferson Terrace Elementary second and third graders to the Global Wildlife Center in Folsom, La. With more than 4,000 exotic, endangered and threatened animals from all over the world, the Center is the largest totally free-roaming wildlife preserve in the United States. While on board a Safari wagon, the students will tour the 900-acre preserve for close-up views of bison, giraffe, zebra, camels and many more animals.

As a part of a unit of ecosystems, Zwieg will use his award to take 100 seventh-grade students on a photo scavenger hunt at the Baton Rouge Zoo.  Using cameras purchased by the grant, the students will search the animal exhibits to find and photograph answers to a list of questions on habitats, ecosystems, abiotic and biotic factors, endangered species and the taxonomy of the animals.  Prizes will be given to the students with the most photographed answers.

Funds from Shamburger’s award will allow 58 French II and French III students to experience the rich history and culture of Louisiana at the historic Acadian Village of Vermilionville in Lafayette, La. While at the village, the students will have an opportunity to tour six original homes filled with artifacts reflecting the life of the Acadians in the 1800s, practice French with native speakers and view costumed historical interpreters demonstrating traditional crafts, cooking or musical styles.

The Target Field Trip Grants Program was launched in 2006 as part of Target’s commitment to provide educational resources for America's schools.  This year, the company awarded 5,000 grants nationally totaling $4 million in funds. Recipients may use their grant funds to cover transportation costs, entry fees, supplies and equipment and resource materials.