The 2025 Minnesota Legislature has provided funding to support equitable access to overnight outdoor education programming for Minnesota students in grades 4 through 12. These grants are intended for accredited environmental learning centers and will broaden access to nature-based educational opportunities for underserved students, including students with disabilities.
Eligible applicants
Must be an accredited environmental learning center who provides multiday, overnight educational experiences. Supported programs also must:
- Occur within the State of Minnesota.
- Be provided to students in grades 4 through 12.
- Provide opportunities for students to directly experience nature.
- Employ research-based environmental and natural resources educational curriculum that is integrated with local school curricula to help students meet academic standards.
- Address accessibility of outdoor educational opportunities for underserved students, including students with disabilities.
Prospective applicants should contact the grant program coordinator for further information and the request for proposals:
Note to schools
With the addition of this grant funding, we will no longer be using No Child Left Inside grants to support school trips to residential environmental learning centers.
If you are interested in financial support for these educational opportunities, please contact the learning centers directly for more information on potential scholarships and transportation funding.
Availability for financial support is expected to begin in spring 2026.
Environmental learning centers: