Connect Kids to Parks!

The state is offering grants to public schools to fund field trips to state parks, state lands, and historic sites for science, history and physical education programming. The Connect Kids to Parks program funds grants to reimburse bus costs, tolls, the fee for bus entry into the facility and any program fees, up to $750/classroom. Grants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and are available to K-12 classrooms in Title 1 and BOCES schools.

Field trip locations covered under the program include:

• Parks, nature centers or historic sites operated by State Parks
• Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Education Centers or Fish Hatcheries
• Montezuma Audubon Center
• The Center for Nature Interpretation in the Adirondacks
• Adirondack Loj
• Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center

The 2017-18 Budget increased funding to $1,000,000 for the Connect Kids to Parks Transportation Grant program through the state Environmental Protection Fund's enhanced Environmental Justice programming. Thus far, more than 380 schools across the state have applied and will receive funding through the grant.

The grant application and guidelines are available on the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website and is reviewed on a rolling basis for field trips anytime during the school year.