National Park Trust is pleased to announce the 2024 grantees of the Every Kid Outdoors Small Grants Program. In partnership with the USDA Forest Service, the National Park Trust developed the Every Kid Outdoors Small Grants Program to support schools and organizations focused on connecting elementary school-aged youth to public parks, lands, and waters.
Since 2009, National Park Trust has been a leader in youth outdoor programming and has been actively addressing the lack of transportation to outdoor spaces – one of the most significant barriers to kids getting outside and experiencing nature. This grant supports the Every Kid Outdoors Program, a federal youth initiative designed to provide every 4th grader in the United States the opportunity to visit public lands and waters for free with their families. Taking advantage of the great outdoors as an excellent classroom, the Park Trust and the USDA Forest Service provide experiences that will help kids establish lifelong connections with nature and become the next generation of park stewards.
This program was open to 501(c)3 non–profit organizations and schools in the United States seeking resources to connect their community’s elementary school-aged kids with local parks, public lands, and waters. For 2024, the Park Trust and USDA Forest Service awarded 41 grants to qualified applicants – totaling almost $155,000. Information about some of the awardees is below.
- Discover Your Northwest, runs Project SNOW, which successfully engages 5,000 underserved 4th-grade students in outdoor educational activities centered on Central Oregon’s winter ecology and local watersheds. The program, designed to be inclusive, draws 80% of its participants from Title I schools, offering a free and comprehensive experience covering essentials like gear, transportation, and nutrition. For many students, this serves as their initial introduction to the exploration of Mt. Bachelor, enhancing their connection with local public lands.
- Roots Academy is a community that believes that early academic experiences have the power to shape not only the trajectory of education but also how students participate and interact in their immediate and global communities. Their Land and Sea Ecology trip presents a unique opportunity for participants to delve deep into both marine and forest ecology. The adventure unfolds with two nights of primitive camping at the Backwoods Campground in Acadia National Park, including enriching excursions to the Abbe Museum, national park trails, and a marine laboratory, providing students with a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of Maine’s public land and waters within an indigenous context. This holistic approach aims to foster a lifelong connection between students and the natural wonders that surround them.
- EcoHorizons, Inc. focuses on providing immersive outdoor experiences to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the environment, educate on nature conservation, promote physical well-being, create connections to cultural heritages, and instill a sense of stewardship for national parks. Their trip to Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC, will empower youth, especially from new immigrant communities, through meaningful outdoor experiences that educate them about the world’s environmental challenges.
- Huemans Outdoors introduces marginalized children to what they don’t know. Highlighting the disparities faced by children in Chattanooga’s inner-city communities, this initiative aims to bridge the gap by providing immersive outdoor experiences. Underserved 4th graders will embark on trips to the Cherokee National Forest, facilitated through collaboration with the US Forest Service. This day of fun and wonder includes a hike in the woods and wading in the Ocoee River. Recognizing the positive physical and psychological effects of connecting with nature, the program aims to reduce anxiety, improve attention, and enhance physical fitness.
To learn more about the 2024 Every Kid Outdoors Small Grants Program recipients, please visit https://parktrust.org/2024-every-kid-outdoors-grantees/.
