Impact /
Impact /
The Journey Fund exists to ensure that every child can experience and enjoy Gateway Arch National Park.
Since its inception in 2019, the Journey Fund has brought nearly 3,000 students and educators from Title I schools and under resourced youth groups to the Arch grounds, subsidizing transportation, meals, and activities like Tram Rides to the Top, the “Monument to the Dream” documentary film, and riverboat excursions. The Journey Fund has also supported professional development opportunities at the park for educators.
When park rangers were forced to pivot from in-school to virtual classroom visits in 2020 and 2021, the Journey Fund provided resources to assist with their outreach.
In 2022, after so many children had to forego field trips due to the pandemic, field trips are back in greater numbers than ever, and we’re proud to continue to grow the Journey Fund.
Thank you to the Regional Business Council for providing the initial and continued funding to launch this program, with support from AT&T and Bi-State Development.
In 2022, we partnered with Gateway Arch National Park in the month of June to offer eight sessions of Reading with a Ranger.
The free program invited children and families to visit the park to receive a copy of a meaningful, themed children’s book, read it together with a park ranger, engage in group discussion and then do a related activity.
Nearly 100 children participated this past June, with an average age of 7 (second grade), representing 13 cities and more than 40 zip codes.
This program was generously supported by Great Southern Bank’s Community Matters program.