Turning Public Transit into a Classroom on Wheels

Kingston Learning in Limestone – Transit Field Trip Pass Program

Role: Dan Hendry (Limestone District School Board)

Year: 2017

I’ve always believed that for students to truly understand their community, they need to be out in it. In 2017, while working with the Limestone District School Board, I partnered closely with staff at the City of Kingston to create a program that allowed students to take field trips for free using public transit.

At the time, some of the conditions were already in place. Youth under 14 could ride transit for free, and high school students already had bus passes. What was missing was a simple, practical way for entire classes—along with the adults supporting them—to travel together. My role focused on helping bridge that gap.

I worked on designing a system that would be easy for teachers to use while remaining functional for transit operations. The solution we developed was a “one pass, one tap” model that allowed a full class of students, plus up to three caregivers or educators, to board a bus seamlessly. The goal was to remove logistical barriers entirely so teachers could focus on learning rather than transportation planning.

Photos Supplied By: LDSB Youtube Channel

We were also intentional about when the program would be used. Most field trips take place during off‑peak transit hours, which helped make better use of a system otherwise designed around busy before‑ and after‑school rushes. At the same time, students were introduced to public transit early in a supported and positive way, helping build confidence and familiarity.

A significant part of my role involved communications and hands‑on support. I worked directly with teachers—particularly those new to Kingston or unfamiliar with the transit system—to help plan routes, understand schedules, and feel comfortable taking classes out into the city. In many cases, the biggest barrier wasn’t interest, but simply knowing how to get started.

Photos Supplied By: LDSB Youtube Channel

The impact was substantial. By shifting field trips from yellow buses to public transit, the school board saved over $225,000 in a single year. Those savings were reinvested almost immediately, creating approximately 900 additional community‑based learning opportunities for students ranging from libraries and theatres to swimming programs and music lessons.

Seeing this program run successfully for years, and later be adopted by other communities such as Barrie, Ontario, has been incredibly rewarding. This project reinforced for me how systems thinking can unlock new possibilities by re‑imagining how existing infrastructure is used. By making transit the new normal for field trips, we didn’t just save money, we turned the entire city into a classroom, creating a lasting legacy of access and opportunity for students across Kingston.

Related Links & Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg10Qvmg6tI