Every Kid in a Park Field Trip Grant for Local Schools

Date: January 13, 2016
Contact: Melissa O'Donnell, 906-387-2607, x206

Munising, MI (January, 2016) –  Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of 186 federal sites selected to receive a 2015 field trip grant from the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks. The park is collaborating with Hiawatha National Forest and Clear Lake Education Center to connect 500 fourth grade students to their public lands in upper Michigan.

This grant, part of the Foundation's Open OutDoors for Kids program, supports the White House youth initiative Every Kid in a Park.

"It is inspiring to see the National Park Foundation and many other partners step up to support our goal of getting fourth graders and their families into parks, public lands and waters that belong to all Americans," said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. "These generous grants will ensure children across the country have an opportunity to experience the great outdoors in their community while developing a lifelong connection to our nation's land, water and wildlife."

National Park Foundation grants have made it possible for more than 400,000 students (including this year's grantees) to visit national parks and other public lands and waters.

"We want to help people everywhere, from all backgrounds, discover how national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and other public lands and waters are relevant to their lives, and the best way to do that is to give people the opportunity to experience them first-hand," said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. "Through our grants that provide funding for transportation and in-park learning, we are able to connect youth and their families to these special places and inspire people across the country to find their park which, in turn, can foster a lifelong connection to all that public lands and waters have to offer."

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Hiawatha National Forest and Clear Lake Education Center are teaming up to offer field trip opportunities to fourth grade classes within the three local school districts: Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District and Marquette Alger Regional Educational Service Agency. Awarded schools will receive the transportation funds to take a field trip to the park or the forest in May 2016 with supporting pre and post-site classroom visits. Students will engage in hands-on activities that provide multiple avenues to explore, learn and play at their national treasures.

Park Superintendent Laura Rotegard stated: "We are extremely grateful to be a recipient of this grant. Through this grant, the park is afforded the opportunity to partner with the Forest Service to provide fourth grade students a chance to discover and experience the many stories found in their public lands."

If your school is interested in participating in this project, please visit our webpage for application information.  Call Ms. O'Donnell at 906-387-2607, ext 206 for more information.

For the full list of grantees, and their projects, visit www.nationalparks.org/everykidinapark.

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. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.