As part of its continued effort to support Title I schools and student access to park experiences, the National Park Trust has announced its Kids to Parks Day School Grants Program in support of the 11th annual Kids to Parks Day celebration on Saturday, May 15. Kids to Parks Day is a nationwide grassroots movement with kids and families across the country participating in activities to discover and explore America’s parks, public lands, and waters.

The Kids to Parks Day School Grants Program is open to all U.S. Title I schools (40 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch) in grades Pre-K through 12 and provides up to $500 per grant proposal. This year, due to COVID-19, National Park Trust’s grants will only support distance learning experiences. Grant funding can be used towards virtual program fees, hands-on materials for remote learning activities, stewardship supplies, and any other materials needed for a robust at-home or in-school learning experience.

“We are proud to continue our support of Title I schools with the critical funds needed for students to engage with our nation’s parks and public lands,” said Grace Lee, the Trust's executive director. “We hope these experiences help students stay connected with nature during the pandemic until they can be outdoors together in the near future.”

This year, the application process has been streamlined using a new online grants portal. Applicants can find all of the information to submit their proposal at this site. The deadline to apply is February 26. Grant awardees will be announced on March 12. The grants can be used in the spring before the school year ends.