Washington – September 29, 2026 -- The National Park Foundation (NPF) has awarded $4.7 million through its Open OutDoors for Kids program to fund 83 education projects across more than 90 national parks during the 2026-27 school year, marking the program's 15th season.
NPF allocates $4.7 million to 83 grantees for park-based learning
The funding supports field trips, classroom engagements, and virtual learning tied to national parks. The program was created in 2011 with the National Park Service to complement the federal Every Kid Outdoors initiative and address barriers such as transportation costs.
Grantees span wildlife education to civil rights history
Denali Education Center will renew virtual and in-classroom programming linked to Denali National Park and Preserve. The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park will expand more than a decade of programming with in-person and asynchronous materials. Pacific Historic Parks will run an immersive Ford Island bus tour at Pearl Harbor National Memorial examining World War II history.
Ice Age Trail Alliance to reach nearly 10,000 Wisconsin students
The Alliance will combine classroom learning, guided hikes, and post-hike reflection tied to Wisconsin's glacial history at the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Corporation will pair curriculum-aligned field trips with STEM content covering the region's history, culture, and ecology.
Selma to Montgomery trail joins as first-time grantee
The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail will build a raised bed butterfly garden and outdoor learning space at the Lowndes Interpretive Center, linking pollinator conservation to local civil rights history.
Corporate and philanthropic backers of the program include General Motors, American Airlines, Chick-fil-A, Columbia Sportswear, Expedia Group, The North Face, and Nature Valley. The foundation funded $100 million in on-the-ground park projects nationwide in 2025, spanning infrastructure, restoration, education, and access initiatives.