News Release

Park Receives National Park Foundation Grant

Park Ranger demonstrates Atlatl.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: December 15, 2021

Contact: Chantelle Ruidant-Hansen, [phone]

Contact: Alanna Sobel, [phone]

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site received an Open OutDoors for Kids grant from the National Park Foundation (NPF). This grant will enable the park to provide education programs for thousands of school kids throughout the community.

"This exciting opportunity allows us to welcome and reach so many more school children, especially fourth and seventh grade students taking Texas History. Through engaging and fun teaching, they can learn about the national park in their neighborhood" said park superintendent Christine Jacobs. Through this grant the park will bring on four seasonal education park rangers to provide these programs within the park, in classrooms and through distance learning.

Since 2011, NPF has engaged more than one million students in educational programs connecting them with national parks across the country. NPF’s goal is to connect another one million students to parks over the next four years.

“National parks are America’s largest classrooms,” said National Park Foundation President and CEO Will Shafroth. “With parks, learning is fun, memorable, and hands-on. Parks open kids’ eyes to the wonder and complexities of nature and history, and the National Park Foundation is committed to connecting as many kids as possible to parks through our Open OutDoors for Kids program.”

The NPF Open OutDoors for Kids program is made possible by private philanthropy, including support from Youth Engagement and Education premier partner Union Pacific Railroad, and supporting partner GoGo squeeZ. Additional support is provided by Apple, Sierra, Columbia Sportswear, Parks Project, The Batchelor Foundation, Inc., Humana, and many individual donors. Learn more about NPF’s efforts to engage students with national parks as classroom. 

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation works to protect wildlife and park lands, preserve history and culture, educate and engage youth, and connect people everywhere to the wonder of parks. We do it in collaboration with the National Park Service, the park partner community, and with the generous support of donors, without whom our work would not be possible. Learn more at www.nationalparks.org.