Lyda Hill Philanthropies (LHP) has awarded a gift to Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD), through the Dallas Education Foundation, 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. Learning Voyages connects classroom instruction to real-world learning through immersive, curriculum-aligned field experiences.
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. Through the pilot, more than 48,000 students in select grade levels will participate in an off-campus learning experience aligned with their curriculum. All students in participating grades, including 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.
“We value partners like the Lyda Hill Philanthropies, who provide high-quality experiences for our Dallas ISD students,” said Angie Gaylord, Dallas ISD’s chief of academics. “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.”
By underwriting transportation, admissions, and program coordination, the Lyda Hill Philanthropies supported pilot removes financial and logistical barriers that have historically limited access to large-scale off-campus experiences. The initiative is designed to test and strengthen districtwide systems for buses, scheduling, chaperones, and curriculum alignment, ensuring equitable access to meaningful off-campus learning for 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 deeply reinforces classroom learning. 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.”
While the pilot is STEM-focused, Learning Voyages is envisioned as 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 learning verticals over time.
The launch of Learning Voyages represents a systemwide shift for Dallas ISD and establishes coordinated, large-scale enrichment field experiences across the district for the first time in over a decade.
Learning Voyages advances Lyda Hill Philanthropies’ mission to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators through immersive STEM experiences that spark curiosity and lasting interest. Research shows that expanding access to high-quality STEM experiences can increase student engagement and motivation. Field Trip experiences have been proven to increase student interest in specific subjects, particularly for students with fewer enrichment opportunities.
Source: Press release
