The 2023-2024 Open Outdoors for Kids Program Hits an Investment Milestone and Celebrates Reaching 2 Million Total Students Since the Program's Inception
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Park Foundation (NPF) is excited to announce that 99 Open OutDoors for Kids grantees will receive a combined $4.4 million dollars in funding during the 2023-2024 school year.
Building on a child's innate wonder and curiosity of the natural world, Open OutDoors for Kids grants allow students to immerse themselves in national parks through field trips, classroom engagements, and educational activities. The program's goal is to deepen connections to our natural and cultural world, creating lifelong national park stewards.
"We are beyond thrilled to reach over 2 million students through our Open OutDoors for Kids program," said Lise Aangeenbrug, chief program officer at the National Park Foundation. "I believe that it's never too early to build a connection with our natural world and learn about our country's history through unique, hands-on experiences in national parks. We look forward to reaching millions of more students over the coming years through high-quality, engaging education programs that span topics as diverse as the more than 400 national park sites."
This year's investment reaches an all-time high in funding impact and contributes to the celebratory milestone of the Foundation connecting more than 2 million students to national parks since Open OutDoors for Kids' inception in 2011.
"America's 425 national parks provide incredible opportunities for growth and meaningful connection with the country's cultural heritage," said National Parks Service Director Chuck Sams. "Children from Massachusetts to California and in between will continue to benefit from this investment, allowing students to experience unparalleled places of learning like Everglades National Park, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area."
Here are a few examples of the programs and projects that OOK will support this year:
"At Union Pacific, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the magic of our national parks. That's why we're proud to support the National Park Foundation's Open OutDoors for Kids program, which helps connect students with these incredible places," said Liisa Stark, Union Pacific vice president-Public Affairs. "These experiences spark a sense of wonder and appreciation for our natural and cultural heritage, and they inspire the next generation of park stewards."
The National Park Foundation would like to acknowledge and thank the following partners for supporting our mission to protect and enhance America's national parks for present and future generations: Columbia, Alicia and Peter Pond, Columbia Sportswear, Sierra, Humana, General Motors, Maverik, Expedia, Union Pacific, and The Batchelor Foundation, Inc.
SOURCE National Park Foundation