At the start of the spring session of Kids Discover the Trail! (KDT!) Ithaca, students from two Ithaca City School District (ICSD) elementary schools boarded buses bound for the Tompkins County Public Library. What began as a quiet start quickly shifted as students connected with their buddies from the other school. By the time they arrived, anticipation had grown into visible enthusiasm, with students fully engaged in the shared experience. Inside the library, that energy continued as buddies participated in activities such as a puppet show, singing, dancing, and engaging with peers and librarians.
Experiences like this are at the heart of KDT! Ithaca, a program launched in 2004 as a collaboration between the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI), the ICSD, and the Discovery Trail. KDT! was created to give every elementary student in the district experience-based opportunities beyond the classroom. Two decades later, that vision has grown into a defining part of the ICSD elementary experience.
Each year, every grade level is connected with one of the eight organizations that make up the Discovery Trail with the goal of enhancing student learning and encouraging family engagement. This year’s spring trips include everything from making observations about wildflowers to exploring bird habitats, with each experience aligned to classroom learning objectives:
Pre-K: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell
K: Tompkins County Public Library
1st grade: The Paleontological Research Institution’s Museum of the Earth
2nd grade: Sciencenter
3rd grade: Cornell Botanic Gardens
4th grade: The History Center in Tompkins County (Eight Square Schoolhouse)
5th grade: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Every student who participates takes home a related book and a free family pass encouraging return visits, reinforcing the connection between classroom learning and local community resources.
KDT! Ithaca is more than a series of field trips; it is an integrated educational model built on partnerships and continuity. Through the Buddy Up initiative, students are paired with peers from another ICSD elementary school in the same grade level and participate in KDT! experiences together. In most cases, students are matched based on the middle school they are expected to attend, helping build relationships that extend across buildings.
Teachers consistently report that students return from trips more engaged, curious, and eager to participate. For many students, these experiences open doors to places they may not have otherwise visited.
The success of KDT! Ithaca is rooted in deep community collaboration. The IPEI plays a critical role in funding and coordination, ensuring equitable access for all students. The Discovery Trail, a network of eight local organizations, provides the rich learning environments that make each visit memorable.
Together with ICSD educators and staff, these partners have built a program that reflects the values of the community: curiosity, accessibility, and a commitment to whole-child learning.
For the ICSD, KDT! represents a long-standing partnership in experiential education. By embedding these opportunities into the curriculum, the ICSD ensures that every student has access to high-quality, hands-on learning. It’s a model that not only supports academic and social growth but also fosters a sense of belonging and connection to the Ithaca community.
For 20 years, KDT! Ithaca has helped students see their community as a place of learning, discovery, and possibility. And for students across the district, that journey is just beginning.