For the first time in over a decade, thousands of Dallas ISD students will get to experience STEM-focused field trips this year, thanks to a gift from Lyda Hill Philanthropies.

Lyda Hill Philanthropies, through the Dallas Education Foundation, is giving funds to support the launch of Learning Voyages, a new districtwide passport program designed to expand access to high-quality, off-campus learning experiences for students across the district. The goal is to connect classroom instruction to real-world learning through immersive, curriculum-aligned field experiences.  

At the Perot museum. [Photo: Dallas ISD]

“We value partners like the Lyda Hill Philanthropies, who provide high-quality experiences for our Dallas ISD students,” Angie Gaylord, Dallas ISD’s chief of academics, said in a statement. “The curriculum-aligned learning experiences passport aims to spark a passion for STEM by allowing students to apply learning in real-life settings.”

“Students will annually explore interactive exhibits and engage in activities designed to foster curiosity, creativity, and discovery at every grade level, inspiring the next generation of innovators,” Gaylord added.

Improving access to learning opportunities

At the Perot museum. [Photo: Dallas ISD]

Launched as a pilot program in spring 2026, Learning Voyages will initially focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning opportunities at Dallas’ leading science and nature institutions. More than 48,000 students, or about 35% of all DISD students, will participate in an off-campus learning experience aligned with their curriculum. All students in first, second, fourth, fifth, and seventh grades will visit one of the following institutions: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Dallas Zoo, Environmental Education Center, or Perot Museum of Nature and Science. 

By underwriting transportation, admissions, and program coordination, Lyda Hill Philanthropies is helping to remove financial and logistical barriers that have historically limited access to large-scale off-campus experiences, the organization said. The initiative is designed to test and improve districtwide systems for buses, scheduling, chaperones, and curriculum alignment, to bring meaningful off-campus learning to all students across Dallas ISD. 

For participating science and nature institutions, Learning Voyages creates a coordinated, scalable approach to serving students districtwide. Aligning visits to specific grade levels and curriculum goals allows partner organizations to serve more students, plan staffing more efficiently, and deliver programming that significantly enhances classroom learning.

Photo: Dallas ISD

Stronger STEM and growing enrichment

The pilot also builds on existing STEM and environmental education programs at these institutions, many of which are supported by Lyda Hill Philanthropies. 

“STEM learning is strengthened when students can connect classroom lessons to hands-on experiences at Dallas’s world-class science and nature institutions,” said Lyda Hill, Founder of Lyda Hill Philanthropies. “We applaud Dallas ISD’s commitment to expanding these STEM-rich opportunities out of the traditional classroom and are proud to help make this pilot possible.”

Photo: Dallas ISD

While the pilot is STEM-focused, Learning Voyages was created to become a long-term, districtwide framework for high-quality educational field experiences across multiple subject areas. Insights from the pilot will inform future expansion, with the potential to serve additional grade levels and incorporate new areas of learning over time, the organization said.

The launch of Learning Voyages represents a systemwide shift for Dallas ISD by establishing coordinated, large-scale enrichment field experiences across the district for the first time in over a decade, the school district said. 

Learning Voyages advances Lyda Hill Philanthropies’ mission to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators through outstanding STEM experiences that spark curiosity and lasting interest. Research shows that expanding access to high-quality STEM experiences can boost student engagement and motivation. Field Trip experiences have been proven to increase student interest in specific subjects, particularly for students with fewer enrichment opportunities, the organization said.

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