Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission
  • Home
    • District Workshops
  • Applications
    • Application Toolbox
  • About the Commission
    • Commission Members
    • Commission Login
  • Meetings and Agendas
  • Our Work
  • Contact Us
  • News

News and Resource Library

DNR Grants to help get children outside early and often

10/3/2019

Comments

 
From the MN DNR, September 30, 2019
Apply starting Oct. 23 for funding aimed to increase outdoor experience, education and stewardship
Lifelong lessons and care for Minnesota’s tremendous outdoor heritage start with quality time outdoors. The Department of Natural Resources is offering a new grant program called “No Child Left Inside” to help more children cast a fishing line, study animal tracks, hike or bike, or simply learn more about nature. 
“We’re excited to be putting some funding toward getting kids outdoors. The time is now,” said Jeff Ledermann, DNR’s education and skills team supervisor. “Minnesotans care deeply about the outdoors. Kids in past decades were outdoors early and often, but that’s not a given anymore so these grants are here to boost outdoor programs and initiatives all around the state.”
Public entities and nonprofit organizations serving youth under age 18 are eligible to apply for this first phase of the grant program, which features a simple application and a quick review. In the first phase, $182,000 is available for programs all around Minnesota. The minimum request is $500 and the maximum is $5,000. Future phases of the grant program will have larger grant awards with more extensive application and review processes.
Applications can be submitted starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, and awards will be made on a rolling basis. Matching dollars are encouraged but not required. The application period will close once all the money is awarded. The earliest date to start reimbursable project work is Sunday, Dec. 1, and the reimbursable grant project work must be completed by Monday, June 1, 2020.
“We’re urging folks to be creative in how they approach getting youth outdoors and if in doubt, please apply for these grants,” Ledermann said. “We’re anticipating a strong response from people who work with youth every day—we know they have great ideas.”
The 2019 Minnesota Legislature authorized the No Child Left Inside grant program. Funding can be used for outdoor recreation equipment, transportation and related natural resource education expenses. Factors the DNR will consider in determining awards include whether the project:
  • Contributes to a geographically balanced distribution of awards.
  • Provides students with direct experiences and understanding of nature.
  • Uses research-based, effective environmental, ecological, agricultural or other natural-resource-based educational curriculum.
  • Maximizes the number of participants.
  • Serves children with limited opportunities to outdoor activities.
  • Uses public parks and other natural resource venues and personnel as resources.
  • Commits matching funds or in-kind support.
For more information on the grant program and a link to the application, visit the DNR’s recruit, retain and reactivate page.
Comments

    Categories

    All
    Agency Plans And Reports
    Demographics
    Emerging Trends & Designs
    Natural Resource Management
    News
    Outdoor Recreation Research
    Public Health Values
    Technical Planning & Design Guidelines/Standards


    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016


    RSS Feed

    Subscribe to
    receive blog posts
    in your email.

    * indicates required
Picture
Questions? Contact coordinator@gmrptcommission.org
© 2021 Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission.
All Rights Reserved.

News Blog
  • Home
    • District Workshops
  • Applications
    • Application Toolbox
  • About the Commission
    • Commission Members
    • Commission Login
  • Meetings and Agendas
  • Our Work
  • Contact Us
  • News