NEEF & Partners Announce $243,000 in New Grant Funding for Outdoor Youth Programs

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Forest Service and The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today launched the America’s Great Outdoors: Connecting Youth to the Outdoors 2012 Grants. The grants are aimed at increasing the number of youth recreating, learning and volunteering on public lands.

Nonprofit organizations, academic institutions and tribal groups that partner with the Forest Service or BLM are encouraged to apply, as well as units of the agencies. Grants will be in the range of $2,500 to $20,000 each for programs and projects. Applications are due Sept. 19, 2012. Information on applying and eligibility are available at neefusa.org/grants/connecting_youth.

“Our goal is to catalyze efforts in communities around the nation that will help young people experience the nation’s public lands and build a connection with them through outdoor activity, education and stewardship,” said Diane Wood, President of NEEF.

“It’s critical that we introduce more young Americans to the wonders of nature and the adventure they can find in the great outdoors,” said U.S. Forest Service Director of Partnerships Joe Meade. “These grants will help inspire our next generation of conservationists.”

President Obama launched the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative (AGO) on April 16, 2010. He asked the secretaries of the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, the administrator of the EPA and the chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality to develop 21st century conservation and recreation approaches that address the challenges faced by our public lands today. One of the overarching themes is to offer opportunities to engage young people with the outdoors.

“The Bureau of Land Management is committed to connecting youth from all backgrounds with the benefits of being outdoors,” said Mike Pool, Acting Director, BLM. “Engaging young people with the natural world helps foster new conservationists who will be good stewards to our public lands for generations to come.”

Learn more about the grants and other funding opportunities at neefusa.org/grants.

Connecting Youth to the Outdoors Grants Press Release