Tumacácori National Historic Park/NPS.

Tumacácori was selected to receive a field trip grant from the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks. The grant will cover transportation costs for local public schools to visit and participate in one of Tumacácori’s curriculum-based education programs. This grant, part of the National Park Foundation’s “Open Outdoors for Kids” program, supports the federal government’s “Every Kid in a Park” initiative.

“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.”

Headlining Tumacácori’s school programs this year is Padre Kino’s Quest, which explores multiple aspects of the 4th grade curriculum including: mathematics, geography, persuasive writing, and, of course, the life of Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino. Students must solve their way through a series of puzzles and challenges to collect the “Kino Skill Badges” required to complete the quest. Like all of Tumacácori’s curriculum-based programs, the Quest includes pre- and post-visit lessons and presents Arizona state standards to participants in a hands-on, inquiry-based setting.

With the addition of the National Park Foundation’s grant, Tumacácori is able to offer immersive educational experience to local students at zero cost to the school. There is no entrance fee, no program fee, and now fully reimbursed transportation.