About 45 Puyallup elementary students got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Port of Tacoma today, thanks to a grant provided by Target Corporation.

The $450 grant was secured by Hunt Elementary teacher Carrie Perrin, who designed the field trip to help her fourth-grade students understand the impact of trade on their community’s history and economy.

The students got an up-close look at the monster machines that move cargo on the docks and learned about how the port creates jobs in Washington state. They saw how some of their clothes, toys, TVs and games travel in large containers by ship and train on their way to local store shelves.

The tour followed a classroom talk Wednesday by Tacoma longshore President Scott Mason.

In addition to providing funds for student transportation and admission to the Working Waterfront Museum at the Foss Waterway Seaport after the port tour, the grant enabled Perrin to purchase disposable cameras for the students to chronicle their trip.

Students will share highlights and photos with Port commissioners at their April 7 regular meeting.

About the Target field trip grant program
Since Target Corporation began its grant program in 2007, the company has awarded $13.3 million in grants and provided 1.6 million students with the opportunity to learn outside the classroom and enhance their arts, math, science and social studies. Learn more about the grant program.

About the Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is an economic engine for South Puget Sound, with more than 43,000 family-wage jobs in Pierce County and 113,000 jobs across Washington state connected to Port activities. A major gateway to Asia and Alaska, the Port of Tacoma is among the largest container ports in North America. The Port is also a major center for bulk, breakbulk and project/heavy-lift cargoes, as well as automobiles and trucks.