GRPS Students Visit Lake Michigan Because of a Unique Business Partnership

It began as a conversation three years ago between a local company and officials from Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS). And, it sparked a unique partnership that the school district says serves as an inspiration for other businesses to get involved in enlightening inner city school children. And, the result of the meeting between Open Systems Technologies (OST) and GRPS?  Eleven field trips this Spring to Lake Michigan’s Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon and Rosy Mound Natural Area in Grand Haven for nearly 700 fifth graders from 9 GRPS schools.

Each day-long field trip will include round trip transportation from the school to the parks, lunch, and a unique place-based educational opportunity for GRPS students. Those students, coming from schools such as Cesar Chavez, Sibley, Shawmut, Burton, Buchanan, Harrison Park, Southwest, and East Leonard/Stocking will probably be seeing Lake Michigan for the first time.

Some students rarely venture beyond the City limits, because of lack of transportation and financial issues. It was OST founder Dan Behm who offered the idea of supporting a series of field trips to Lake Michigan that, at the very least, allows the children to see the serene, breathtaking shoreline that many of us take for granted.

This endeavor serves as a way to expose elementary age children from GRPS to the beauty of Lake Michigan, educating them on environmental science, and demonstrating how area businesses can partner with GRPS in unique and beneficial ways.

OST is a global company, but is headquartered here in Grand Rapids, and they have a standing relationship with many area schools, especially GRPS.

Just another reason that this community is one of the most supportive, enriching and loving communities in the country.