More than 900 elementary and middle school students in 2024 will get connected to the great outdoors, thanks to grants from the National Park Trust, in partnership with Edison International. The first Southern California Kids to Parks Grant Program is designed to connect third through eighth graders at Title I schools in southern California to local public parks, lands, and waters. A leader in youth outdoor programming since 2009, National Park Trust addresses the barriers that prevent students from under-resourced communities from engaging with nature.
The 2024 grants will fund educational outdoor trips for 13 schools and impact more than 900 elementary and middle school students. This program aims to help students forge lifelong connections with parks and nurture their role as caretakers and advocates of our public lands and waters.
"We are delighted to work with Edison International and applaud their commitment to helping us get even more kids outdoors to discover our parks," said Grace Lee, executive director of National Park Trust. "We hope these children will reap the many benefits of our public lands and understand their critically important role as future park stewards."
Grants totaling $20,000 were awarded to the following 13 schools: