​Brooklyn Children’s Museum Receives New Grant to Offer Free Field Trips for Brooklyn’s Title I Schools

Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) will provide free field trips to Title I schools across the borough, thanks to a generous $350,000 grant from New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Councilmember Chi Ossé. Last year, BCM received $100,000 to facilitate free trips for 10,000 school children. With the increased funding, this initiative will engage even more students in hands-on, immersive experiences that will strengthen their academic and social skills.

Brooklyn has the most Title I schools in New York City, making BCM uniquely positioned to support its community. Each field trip gives students full access to the Museum’s exhibits on visual arts, STEM, world cultures, and civic engagement, helping to foster curiosity and creativity. BCM’s programs align with New York State learning standards and provide teachers with resources that complement and support their work in the classroom.

Studies have shown the immense value of field trips in boosting cultural awareness, reinforcing personal development and academic outcomes. Low-income students, in particular, show the greatest gains in subject proficiency, making these field trips so valuable for Brooklyn families. By providing these experiences, BCM is not only fostering curiosity and creativity but also directly supporting teachers and families across the borough.

“Field trips are a vital part of our students’ education, sparking curiosity and expanding their learning beyond the classroom,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “With this investment, the Council is ensuring that more Brooklyn public school students, especially those from low-income families, have free access to the hands-on educational opportunities that Brooklyn Children’s Museum provides. By removing barriers to one of our city’s world-class cultural institutions for children, we are providing equitable opportunities for students to learn and working families to thrive. I thank Council Member Chi Ossé for championing this investment with me that supports our scholars and families across Brooklyn.”

“I’m proud to have secured a $350,000 grant that will allow more students at Title I schools to experience the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. This investment expands free field trips and opens the doors of one of our district’s most cherished cultural institutions to even more young people. We so hard fought for this funding because every child deserves the opportunity to learn and be inspired by the cultural experiences that make Brooklyn such an extraordinary place to grow up,” said New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé.

“We are tremendously grateful to Council Speaker Adams and Councilmember Ossé for their continued commitment to Brooklyn’s education and the next generation of Brooklynites,” said Atiba T. Edwards, President and CEO of Brooklyn Children’s Museum. “This generous grant will allow us to reach more Title I school children than ever before, expanding our impact and ensuring that all students can benefit from the kind of hands-on learning that strengthens academic foundations and builds critical social skills.”

Students on field trips can, among other installations, explore BCM’s new Mobilab, a hands-on exhibit designed to advance STEM education through playful experimentation, offering kids the opportunity to suit up in lab coats to invent, test, and perfect their original toy vehicles.

About Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Inspired by the energy and diversity of our borough, Brooklyn Children’s Museum creates experiences that ignite curiosity, celebrate identity, and cultivate joyful learning. Founded in 1899 as the world’s first children’s museum, Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) is New York City’s largest cultural institution designed especially for families. Proudly based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, BCM serves 300,000 children and caregivers annually with exhibits and programs grounded in visual arts, music and performance, natural science, and world cultures. For more information, visit www.brooklynkids.org.