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National
Park Service Awards Grants to Help Youth Explore America’s Waters
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Paddle Nation
Grants Made Possible through Partnership with Outdoor Nation
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Washington,
DC – May 2014 / Newsmaker Alert / This summer, young people across
the nation will have the opportunity to get outdoors to play and explore
their nearby rivers, thanks to Paddle Nation Grants, an initiative that
connects young Americans with their waterways through recreational paddling.
Through a partnership among the National
Park Service, Outdoor Retailer, and top paddle-sport gear manufacturers
and retailers, Outdoor Nation will grant $40,000 to nonprofits to support
local paddling projects.
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 “These
Paddle Nation Grants showcase the great things we can achieve when the
National Park Service teams up with nonprofit and business partners to
teach skills and increase youth participation in outdoor recreation activities,”
said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Recreational paddling
is one of the most accessible ways to introduce young people to outdoor
adventure, empower them to have positive impacts in their communities,
and build lifelong connections with nature.”
Outdoor
Nation selected 17 youth-developed projects from a pool of 159 applications,
choosing awardees based on their innovation, likelihood of increasing youth
paddling participation, partnership potential and budget factors.
“Paddle
Nation Grants will not only get more young people outside and active on
America’s waterways, but they will also educate and elevate the importance
of protecting these resources,” said Chris Fanning, executive director
of the Outdoor Foundation, the organization that started the Outdoor Nation
movement. “As a result, millennials across the country will explore rivers,
lakes and streams through a variety of different activities—from kayaking
to stand up paddle boarding—while encouraging their peers to join them
on the water.”
This
year’s grant recipients will connect young people to their waterways, including
national water trails, wild and scenic rivers, and urban waterways:
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Alabama:
Alabama Scenic River Trail, Riverkids Program Expansion, $2,500
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California:
H2O Trash Patrol, Stand Up for Clean Waterways, $2,500
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Georgia:
Georgia River Network, Paddle Georgia 2014 Youth Program: Ripple Effect,
$2,000
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Kansas:
Friends of the Kaw, Keeping the Dream Alive: Connecting Underserved Students
with the Kansas River National Water Trail, $2,500
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Maine:
Casco Bay High School, Casco Bay High School Freshman and Senior Quests,
$2,500
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Michigan:
International Wildlife Refuge Alliance, Paddle on the River: Outdoor Recreation
and Learning at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, $2,500
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Missouri:
Missouri State University, Ozark Scenic and National River/Missouri State
University Volunteer Water Patrol, $2,500
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New Mexico:
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps Rafts the Rio, $2,500
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New York:
Sebago Canoe Club, Sebago Canoe Club - Youth Paddling on Jamaica Bay, $2,500
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Ohio:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Athens County, Inc., Teamwork on the Water:
Strouds Run State Park Mini-Camp, $875
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Pennsylvania:
Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition, Delaware River Sojourn: Youth Development
Scholarships, $2,400
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Texas:
Austin Explore, Inc., Buffalo River Summer Wilderness Trip, $2,500
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Utah:
Salt Lake City Foundation, Jordan River Youth Ambassadors, $2,500
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Washington:
Garfield High School, Establishing a Kayak Outing Program at Garfield High
School, $2,500
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West Virginia:
Cacapon Institute, Stream Scholar’s Summer Camp 2014, $2,250
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Wisconsin:
Friends of the St. Croix Headwaters, Inc., Eco Adventure, $2,500
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Wisconsin:
Rutabaga Outdoor Programs, Community Outreach, $2,500
About
the National Park Service
More
than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 401 national
parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local
history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at
www.nps.gov,
on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice,
Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice,
and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
About
Outdoor Nation
Outdoor
Nation is committed to increasing and expanding youth participation in
outdoor recreation through entertainment, education, engagement and action
in order to cultivate a healthier, more active generation. Outdoor Nation
is an initiative of The Outdoor Foundation®, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
established by Outdoor Industry Association® to inspire and grow future
generations of outdoor enthusiasts. www.outdoornation.org
Media
Contacts:
Kathy
Kupper (NPS) 202-208-6843
Emily
Linroth (NPS) 202-354-1935 |
