Chicago Public Schools students take virtual field trips with help from nonprofit

The Oriental Institute, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, National Writers Museum and more partner with the organization

ByABC 7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Sunday, November 22, 2020
Chicago Public Schools students take virtual field trips with help from nonprofit
Some Chicago Public Schools students are still able to take field trips during the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to this nonprofit.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- While students across Chicago learn remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, one organization is trying to ensure they can still take field trips.

Communities In Schools of Chicago is working to connect Chicago Public Schools with museums and other community partners to offer teachers virtual field trips.

Emma MacLean, an arts partnership specialist with Communities In Schools of Chicago, joined ABC 7 Chicago Saturday to talk about the effort.

The organization started the program in May 2019 to give students from 175 CPS schools an opportunity to experience new things and to give teachers materials to enhance their classroom curriculum, MacLean said.

RELATED: Chicago Public Schools reopening in-person learning starting in January, school district announces

This fall they will provide 32 classrooms with field trip opportunities, with 75 additional classrooms in the works.

Their partners, such as The Oriental Institute, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and the National Writers Museum, create fun, interactive and customized field trips that support what students are learning in the classroom.

Visit cisofchicago.org/join-our-team or send an email to info@cisofchicago.org for more information.