Northeast Ohio - Cuyahoga Valley National Park and James A. Garfield National Historic Site were selected to receive a 2017 field trip grant from the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks. The grant will help them reach upwards of 8,000 northeast Ohio fourth grade students.
This grant, part of the Foundation’s Open OutDoors for Kids program, supports Every Kid in a Park. Beyond making field trips possible, the Every Kid in a Park Focus City program raises local community awareness about the importance of connecting kids to the outdoors.
“I can still remember the excitement of exploring my first national park as a kid and it made me want to discover more," said National Park Foundation President Will Shafroth. “I’m thrilled that our National Park Foundation grants make it possible for hundreds of thousands of kids to experience the wonder of parks for the first time, sparking a lifelong love for national parks."
Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Environmental Education Center and James A. Garfield National Historic Site have both been recipients of the grant in past years and made the proposal to join efforts for 2017. “This expansion will help broaden program options for students and teachers, increase the geographic reach of both parks, and success in the northeast Ohio region", said Katie Wright, director, Education Center. Both will offer on-site day programs specifically designed to meet Ohio learning standards at the fourth-grade level, as well as implement a multitouch approach to build relationships within schools and ensure students retain what they learn.
For the full list of grantees and their projects, click.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards. In 2016, commemorating the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, the Foundation launched The Centennial Campaign for America’s National Parks, a comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the future of these national treasures for the next hundred years. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.
Tags: national park foundation every kid in a park cuyahoga valley national park field trips field trip
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
