Question 1

Program Overview

The 14th annual Kids to Parks Day is Saturday, May 18, 2024! National Park Trust excitedly invites kids and families across the country to participate in this nationwide grassroots movement to discover and explore America’s parks, historic sites, public lands, and waters.

As a part of the celebration, National Park Trust is pleased to once again offer our Kids to Parks Day School Grants Program. Open to students from US Title I schools (40% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch) in grades PreK through 12, this grant program provides classrooms with up to $1,000 for in-park experiences. Funding can be used towards program fees, transportation costs, hands-on materials for remote learning activities, stewardship supplies, and any other materials needed for a robust learning experience. Applicants are responsible for meeting all school and park COVID guidelines and regulations.

This grant is designed to be student-driven, and student-teacher collaboration is a must. In addition, all applications must include a stewardship element and a park-themed educational component that focuses on either outdoor recreation and healthy lifestyles, environmental education/science, or history.

Specifics & Requirements

This grant is open to all US states and territories. Participating students must be from Title I schools (40% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch) in grades PreK through 12. Teachers may submit the application on behalf of their class, but direct student involvement in the application is required. One entry can be submitted per class/group of students. More than one entry form can be submitted per school, if each entry benefits unique students (e.g. multiple classes in one grade level).

Deadline: Applications must be submitted by February 2, 2024 by 11:59 pm HST.

Before you begin the application, make sure your request meets the following requirements:

Each application should include a park-themed educational component that focuses on either outdoor recreation and healthy lifestyles, environmental education/science, or history.

Click here for educational component examples.

Each application should also include a park stewardship element. This can be an activity or an educational lesson done at a park or as a pre or post trip lesson at school.

Click here for stewardship component examples.

Experiences that take place during May 2024 are preferred, but exceptions for other spring 2024 dates will be considered. Funding must be used by June 14th, 2024.
Grantees agree to submit the following to the Park Trust after their experience as part of their final report through Cybergrants:

A teacher summary - 1 or more paragraphs summarizing and reflecting on the experience written by the lead teacher.
A teacher survey - Additionally, teachers are required to complete a brief online survey via CyberGrants.
A student summary - 1 or more paragraphs summarizing and reflecting on the experience written by a participating student. (One summary per entry is required, but more are welcomed). Students under 3rd grade may dictate quotes to the teacher to submit. 3rd graders and up must write a summary in their own words.
5 trip photos - Send at least 5 digital photos from your experience. Photos should include your students learning, enjoying, and experiencing your lesson or program. Photos of students using any items purchased are also encouraged. Please include your plush Buddy Bison in the pictures as well!

Grantees Will Receive

The Kids to Parks Day School Grants Program will grant the following:

Up to $1,000 per classroom for an in-park field trip.
1 plush Buddy Bison, National Park Trust's loveable woolly mascot.
An award certificate.

Selection and Notification Process

Criteria for this grant program has been established by the National Park Trust. Based on a review and selection process, grant recipients will be announced on February 16, 2024.

Program Timeline

February 2, 2024 - Deadline for online application
February 16, 2024 - Grant notifications sent to applicants via Cybergrants
May 2024 - School park experiences occur
June 14, 2024 - All collateral due to National Park Trust

Questions

Send any questions regarding this program to Emily Swanzy at ktpschoolgrant@parktrust.org.

Submit An Application

CLICK THE APPLY NOW BUTTON ABOVE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Click HERE to PREVIEW the application for in-park experiences.