The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers grants for youth education and recreation programs through its No Child Left Inside grant program. The program aims to support and increase efforts to expand programming that connects youth to the outdoors.
Recent and emerging research indicates that students are increasingly disconnected from nature. Getting more people into the outdoors is crucial for the future stewardship of Minnesota's natural resources.
Purpose
Funded by the 2019 Minnesota Legislature, these grants are provided for outdoor environmental, ecological and other natural-resource-based education and recreation programs serving youth. (2019 Special Session 1, Chapter 4, Article 1, Section 3, Subd. 6).
The new grant program will have multiple phases. Future No Child Left Inside grant program phases will be announced later and include larger grant awards up to $49,999 with a more extensive application process and longer project time frames.
Phase 1 mini grants
Phase 1 mini grants program opens in October 2019. It consists of a mini grant program with a short timeline, simple application, quick review and a total of $182,000 available to fund grants of $500 to $5,000.
Thanks to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection for permission to use of "No Child Left Inside."