New River Gorge Gets Grant to Expose More Students to Outdoor Learning

A new grant is expected to help hundreds of students experience nature’s classroom at the New River Gorge.

The nonprofit National Park Foundation awarded the Open Outdoors for Kids grant to the New River Gorge in September. The program supports 132 national parks across the country and the grants aim to boost the connection young have to public lands.

The grant will be used during the 2018/2019 school year and will mostly cover transportation costs. More than 1,500 second and eighth grade students will participate in two new educational curriculums that have been developed by local teachers and park staff.

New River Gorge park superintendent Lizzie Watts said in a press release that national park staff are looking forward to helping students create more meaningful connections with the New River Gorge.

“We are extremely excited to be able to present this wonderful opportunity to our local students,” Watts said. “National parks like New River Gorge National River provide living laboratories for our children to learn about the natural world around them and make connections to the cultural history of the place they call home.”