Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California recently received an Open OutDoors for Kids grant from the National Park Foundation.
The grant will allow 4th graders from Title I schools in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties to interact virtually with rangers in America’s largest urban national park, according to a Feb. 3 National Park Service release.
The Open Outdoors for Kids Initiative provides children with “experiential, outdoor experiences that promote physical and emotional health, civic engagement and long-term appreciation for nature,” according to the National Park Foundation.
The program's goal is to connect more children to their culture and heritage, enhance hands-on learning opportunities and deepen connections to the natural world, the NPS said. It provides children with free access to parks, while working to connect them to nature so they can benefit from learning opportunities in national parks.
“Before COVID, all programs were in-person experiences, and transportation was funded through this grant,” said Park Superintendent, Savid Szymanski, in the release. “I’m proud of our team for being able to pivot during the pandemic and bring the scenic outdoors into these classrooms miles away.”
There are also unique learning opportunities within the park, Szymanski added.
“Students can direct rangers who are transmitting from here in the mountains and ask them to turn and hike in a particular direction,” he said. “They can also directly chat with the rangers, ask questions and discuss topics.”
The NPF was chartered by Congress in 1967, more than a century after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant in 1864, according to Nationalparks.org.
“National parks are America’s largest classrooms, and Open OutDoors for Kids seeks to connect as many kids as possible to them,” said NPF President and CEO, Will Shafroth, in the release. “With parks, learning is fun, memorable, and hands-on. Parks open kids’ eyes to the wonder and complexities of nature and history, sharing diverse perspectives that offer a wider understanding of our country’s progress and struggles.”
