A key challenge for many parents is finding the funds to send their kids on a school trip.  But the great thing about fundraising for school trips is that it teaches kids important lessons about the economic realities of travel, as well as team work, cooperation and how to talk to people about contributing to their cause.

So, this post is dedicated to 5 great ways for kids to raise money for a school trip, including both new-fangled and old-fangled ways of raising the funds you need.

Old School fundraising.

There’s nothing like a bake sale, car wash, or yard sale to bring the parents to the schoolyard.  These traditional methods of raising funds for school trips gets everyone involved, bringing the community into the fold in common cause.

Parents can team up with their kids, creating a unique dynamic in which everyone puts their shoulder to the wheel to get the job done.  It’s a great lesson for kids and brings parents to the party in a real and positive way that makes a huge difference, cash wise and community wise.

Crowdfunding.

Crowdfunding is an exciting, new-fangled way to raise money for all manner of projects.  It can work for your school trip, too.  At Junior Tours, we particularly like the resource FundRazr.  It’s easy and free.

Your group gets a website to explain how the funds will go toward its school trip – a unique educational experience for them.  They (and parents), will have the opportunity to use social media like Facebook and Twitter to solicit funds.  It’s a fundraising technique ripe with outreach, consciousness-raising and learning opportunities.

Events.

Connect with a local business to create an event that invites the community to join the effort.  Find a business in the community that’s willing to match donated funds for greater impact.

The event might be a coffee house or a picnic, with a silent auction.  Inviting community and business participation raises your group’s and your school’s profile, as well.  You can even involve the trip participants in putting together a media release to alert local press and radio.

F2F.

F2F (face-to-face fundraising) is proven to be one of the most effective ways to raise money for any cause.  Organize your kids to go door to door, targeting neighbourhoods in the school’s catchment.  Kids at the door with a burning passion for going on an educational trip can net your group a very good source of funds.

While they’re door knocking, they’re learning lessons about persuasion and comportment that will serve them well in life.

Scratch cards.

Junior Tours proposes scratch cards as a high return fundraising strategy.  For 10 cents per card, students can offer these to friends and family.  Each box on the cards represents a donation of between .10 cents and $3.00, with each card rendering $150 in funds, once all boxes have been scratched off.

Since 1967, Junior Tours has been offering outstanding student educational travel experiences.  Contact us to request a free quote and sample itinerary.