Open OutDoors for Kids
Open OutDoors for Kids inspires the next generation of park stewards by sparking a sense of wonder and appreciation for our natural and cultural heritage.
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Students on an Open OutDoors for Kids field trip to Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park
Sharing the wonder and curiosity of the natural world with students is pivotal in shaping tomorrow’s national park stewards and ensuring our national parks are protected for generations to come. The National Park Foundation (NPF) is proud to have reached a program milestone with the 2023-2024 Open OutDoors for Kids (OOK) grantees, totaling $4.4 million dollars in grants and over 2 million students connected to parks since the program’s inception in 2011.
This year’s 99 projects are dedicated to connecting students with national parks through field trips, classroom engagements, and educational activities. This hands-on learning helps demonstrate the importance of conservation and sustainability, as well as encourages students to interpret parks’ historical and cultural resources with assistance from park rangers, scientists, Indigenous leaders, historians, and digital materials.
Here are some of the learning opportunities that Open OutDoors for Kids have made possible for the 2023-2024 school year:
Salem Maritime National Historic Site
Park staff, classroom teachers, and Indigenous educators have worked to create a curriculum that engages students in the intertwined history between colonialism and the lived experiences of Indigenous people. Using traditional knowledge along with natural and cultural resources within the park, educators will help students to interpret their region’s history.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Students will learn about the cultural importance of the night sky throughout time. With special focus on the Anishinaabe, the local Native Americans of the region, students will engage their senses to experience the visual, tactile, and auditory experiences that connect cultures with the stars, with accommodations for students with learning disabilities as well as those who may have hearing or visual impairments.
Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area
Students will visit the Pullman National Historical Park and the A. Phillip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, to learn about the history of the Pullman community and the significance of the Pullman Porters in the Great Migration and to the labor movement in the United States. Through engagements with the park and museum staff onsite, monthly virtual presentations, and opportunities for research and collaboration with their peers, students will investigate the cultural significance of their community considering architecture and housing, occupations and opportunities, and successes and challenges while making connections with their own lives.
Point Reyes National Seashore
San Francisco Bay Area fourth graders will embrace the great outdoors at Point Reyes National Seashore by visiting the native northern elephant seals and gray whales. Marine biologists, park rangers, and wildlife educators will provide students with the tools to engage in personal reflection on the magnificent migrations of the animals. Lessons will contain information from local indigenous groups and will be available in both English and Spanish.
Everglades & Biscayne National Parks
Over 15,000 students in the Miami area will take their first step towards becoming lifelong national park stewards by visiting Everglades and Biscayne National Parks to learn about the region’s rich biodiversity. Lessons on these sites will be shared with students both hands-on and virtually with the purpose of engaging student’s families and the larger community.
NPF is proud to have connected 2 million students to national parks and anticipates engaging millions more through Open OutDoors for Kids. A full list of the 2023-2024 Open OutDoors for Kids grantees can be found here.
Related Programs
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Open OutDoors for Kids
Open OutDoors for Kids
Related Parks
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American Memorial ParkAmerican Memorial Park pays tribute to American servicemen and women with offerings like baseball, bicycling, running, tennis, picnicking, and swimming.
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Andersonville National Historic SiteAndersonville National Historic Site serves as a memorial to all American prisoners of war throughout the nation's history.
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Birmingham Civil Rights National MonumentEstablished January 2017, Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument honors the nonviolent protestors that fought against the country’s racial discrimination laws and practices.
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Black Canyon of The Gunnison National ParkVisitors to the Black Canyon experience highly technical rock climbing, as well as adventurous backwoods hiking for expert outdoor enthusiasts.
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Curecanti National Recreation AreaCurecanti contains Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water, and contains recently discovered dinosaur fossils to boot.
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Bryce Canyon National ParkBryce Canyon National Park in Southwestern Utah is famous for the largest collection of hoodoos—the distinctive rock formations at Bryce—in the world. -
Cabrillo National MonumentCabrillo National Monument offers a superb view of San Diego's harbor and skyline and includes Old Point Loma Lighthouse, a San Diego icon since 1854.
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Catoctin Mountain ParkCatoctin Mountain Park contains over 25 miles of hiking through the mountains of upper Maryland, a park which honors Franklin D. Roosevelt's legacy in the U.S.
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César E. Chávez National MonumentCésar E. Chávez revolutionized labor participation in our political age by organizing the first agricultural union. He's hailed as a Latino leader.
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Channel Islands National ParkChannel Islands has five islands (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara) off the coast of southern California, near Los Angeles.
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Chattahoochee River National Recreation AreaThe Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is a great place for a picnic, a leisurely walk, or boating on a sunny afternoon.
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Colorado National MonumentSheer-walled canyons, towering monoliths, colorful formations, desert bighorn sheep, and soaring eagles are all found at Colorado National Monument.
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Cuyahoga Valley National ParkCuyahoga Valley, a national park in Ohio, is very close to Cleveland and Akron and provides recreational opportunities along the Cuyahoga River. -
Cowpens National BattlefieldCowpens National Battlefield commemorates a decisive battle that helped turn the tide of war in the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution.
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Cumberland Gap National Historical ParkAt Cumberland Gap, the Appalachian Mountains give way to 24,000 acres of wilderness, a land of verdant vegetation and diverse animal life. -
Cumberland Island National SeashoreCumberland Island is Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island, full of pristine maritime forests, undeveloped beaches, and wide marshes.
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Death Valley National ParkAmerica’s lowest, hottest, and driest national park, adventurous visitors enjoy Death Valley for its many extremes and mysteries such as the sailing stones. -
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation AreaOur famed 'Water Gap' is formed by Middle Delaware River's passage between low forested mountains and rocky mountain ridges. -
Denali National Park and PreserveMt. Denali, formerly Mt. McKinley, is North America's highest mountain, and is contained within Denali National Park in Alaska. -
Erie Canalway National Heritage CorridorExplore the Erie Canal and discover America's most famous and influential man-made waterway, where the New York State Canal System shined.
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Everglades National ParkTraveling in Florida isn’t complete without stopping at Everglades National Park—a swampland just outside Miami, where visitors can see alligators. -
Biscayne National ParkImmerse yourself with all that nature has to offer on the sunny seas of Biscayne National Park. Explore over 600 species of native fish along one of the world’s largest coral reefs. -
First State National Historical ParkFamous as the First State to ratify the U.S. Constitution, Delaware's state story spans American history from the American Revolution to present day.
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Fort Laramie National Historic SiteEstablished as a fur trading fort in 1834, Fort Laramie evolved into the largest and best known military post on the Northern Plains before its abandonment.
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Fort Larned National Historic SiteA complete and authentic 1860s army post, Fort Larned National Historic Site on the Santa Fe Trail tells of the Indian Wars era and has sandstone structures.
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Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic ShrineA source of American pride, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner." Enjoy ranger talks and flag changes.
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Fort Vancouver National Historic SiteFort Vancouver was the administrative headquarters and main supply depot for the Hudson's Bay Company's fur trading operations in the large Columbia Department.
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Mammoth Cave National ParkMammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world's longest known cave system, with more than 400 miles explored, and one of the oldest tour attractions in North America. -
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical ParkDiscover how the gold rush breathed life into Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, where the journey to Canada was rooted in economic freedom.
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Virgin Islands National ParkCovering the majority of the island of St. John, Virgin Islands National Park features breathtaking beaches, tropical forests, and relics from the island history.
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Gates of The Arctic National Park and PreserveLying north of the Arctic Circle, this remote park and preserve is the northernmost national park in the U.S. and the second largest, spanning 8,472,506 acres.
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Gateway Arch National ParkGateway Arch National Park, formerly known as Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, captures the historical presence of the St. Louis' Old Courthouse where the Dred Scott case was held.
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Gateway National Recreation AreaExtending through New York City and New Jersey, opportunities for swimming, boating, fishing, and bicycling are abundant at the Gateway National Recreation Area.
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George Washington Carver National MonumentThis 2101 acre park has a 3/4 mile nature trail, museum, and an interactive exhibit area for students to explore George Washington Carver's boyhood home.
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Glacier National ParkA hiker’s paradise, Glacier National Park provides an exceptional backcountry experience, the perfect summer vacation for families and adventurers. -
Glen Canyon National Recreation AreaGlen Canyon is home to Lake Powell, the second largest human-made lake in the United States and heralded as a premier boating destination. -
Golden Gate National Recreation AreaGolden Gate National Recreation Area, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, offers much to its many visitors every year. -
Great Basin National ParkThis national park is home to ancient bristlecone pine trees, abundant wildlife, lakes and streams, and limestone caverns, including the stunning Lehman Caves.
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Great Smoky Mountains National ParkAmerica’s most visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains, is an ideal getaway. Hike, camp, and experience one of America’s oldest mountain ranges. -
Haleakalā National ParkHaleakalā National Park, a national park on the Hawai'ian island of Maui, is a superb example of the Hawai'ian Islands' native ecosystems.
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Hawai'i Volcanoes National ParkThe park in Hawai'i encompasses diverse environments that range from sea level to the summit of the earth's largest volcano at 19,999 cubic miles, Mauna Loa. -
Horseshoe Bend National Military ParkHorseshoe Bend National Military Park honors the bravery of 800 soldiers who fought for freedom during the final battle of the War of 1812.
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Indiana Dunes National ParkAt the Indiana Dunes National Park, visitors can explore 15,000 acres of natural terrain including hiking through forests.
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Jean Lafitte National Historic Park & PreserveTake an adventure to Jean Lafitte National Park & Preserve and see Louisiana's living history, culture, and communities.
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Jewel Cave National MonumentExplore your curiosity within the caves at Jewel Cave National Monument.
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Jimmy Carter National Historical ParkPresident Carter's boyhood home captures the foundation of family and faith, which would be central to his commitment to public service.
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John Day Fossil Beds National MonumentJohn Day Fossil Beds National Monument's breathtaking scenery is a place where visitors can explore ancient plants and animals.
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Joshua Tree National ParkVisitors can explore 800,000 acres of beautiful terrain in Joshua Tree National Park, where wildlife thrives in temperatures over 100 degrees. -
Kenai Fjords National ParkExperience the glacial hiking trails at Kenai Fjords National Park, where this rugged landscape promises a life-changing experience for visitors.
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Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield ParkKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park showcases the rich and cultural history of Civil War where over 67,000 soldiers died in Atlanta.
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Knife River Indian Villages National Historic SiteStep into reconstructed earthlodges and explore life in a vibrant village of the Northern Plains Indians on the Upper Missouri at Knife River Indian Villages.
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Lava Beds National MonumentAt the Lava Beds National Monument visitors can explore more than 500 lava tube caves, created over the last half-million years by volcanic eruptions.
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Lincoln Boyhood National MemorialSee Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home site in Indiana and witness life as it would have been on an 1800s farm.
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Mesa Verde National ParkMesa Verde National Park’s cliff dwellings are just one wonder to be found at this national park in Colorado, which also includes protected wilderness. -
Mississippi National River and Recreation AreaThe Mississippi River is an iconic river recognized as an individual national park site that relies on conservation donations from national park supporters.
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Missouri National Recreational RiverFrom a dynamic river to wandering wildlife, Missouri National Recreational River is perfect for families who want a vacation full of education and exploration.
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Moores Creek National BattlefieldThe Battle of Moores Creek Bridge was the catalyst for North Carolina's state independence.
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National Mall and Memorial ParksThe National Mall is America's front yard, featuring the Washington Monument, WWII and Lincoln Memorials, 156 reservations, circles, fountains and more.
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Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military ParkIn 1863, Union and Confederate forces in the Civil War fought for control of Chattanooga, the gateway to the Deep South.
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Rocky Mountain National ParkVisit the Rockies and experience mountain climbing, hiking, camping, fishing, and breathtaking views of jagged peaks, glaciers, and high-mountain lakes. -
Olympic National ParkWashington State's Olympic National Park protects vast wilderness, years of human history, and ecosystems like glacier-capped mountains and rainforests. -
Pictured Rocks National LakeshorePictured Rocks National Lakeshore, on the largest and deepest Great Lake, includes cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, and forest for outdoor adventure.
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Pipestone National MonumentPipestone National Monument is sacred to many American Indian tribes, who quarry and carve its red pipestone for prayer ceremonies.
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Point Reyes National SeashoreSandy beaches, majestic waves, otherworldly cypress trees—crest a hill and see it all when you visit this one-of-a-kind paradigm of coastal California beauty. -
The White House and President's ParkHome to every president except Washington, The White House and its surrounding grounds are a symbol of democracy and the executive branch of government. -
Redwood National and State ParksSome of the tallest and oldest trees on Earth are in Redwood National Park and State Parks, managed jointly by National Park Service and California State Parks. -
River Raisin National Battlefield ParkRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park preserves the January 1813 battles of the War of 1812 and their aftermath in Monroe and Wayne counties in SE Michigan.
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Rosie the Riveter WWII / Home Front National Historical ParkCalifornia's Rosie the Riveter WWII / Home Front National Historical Park honors the sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front.
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Saguaro National ParkSaguaro National Park protects our largest cacti species, the saguaro, and features camping, hiking, and backpacking trails for every level.
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Salem Maritime National Historic SiteSalem Maritime National Historic Site marks the port U.S. Ships exited when carrying cargo from the West to Asia, and includes ship and walking tours.
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Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological PreserveSalt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve documents the human and natural Caribbean world from early Caribbean history to present day.
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San Antonio Missions National Historical ParkSan Antonio Missions National Historical Park is a piece of a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio.
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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation AreaSanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area includes Malibu beaches, hiking trails, and cultural Native American sites.
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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National ParksVisit the world’s largest trees at Sequoia, America’s second national park.
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Shenandoah National ParkHiking along the Appalachian Trail, fly-fishing, and rafting are just some of the possible activities in this national park near Washington, D.C. -
Sleeping Bear Dunes National LakeshoreSleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore offers visitors a rich maritime, agricultural, and recreational history. -
Tallgrass Prairie National PreserveTallgrass Prairie National Preserve protects the once vast tallgrass prairie and its resources.
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Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic SiteTheodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site is the original place President Roosevelt entered political office, and marks his legacy of regulating business and protecting nature.
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Tonto National MonumentThe Salado Phenomena blended ideas of Native American cultures that resulted in a new vibrant society.
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War In The Pacific National Historical ParkWar in the Pacific National Historical Park, a former battlefield, honors World War II soldiers and lures visitors with island beaches.
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Women's Rights National Historical ParkThe Women's Rights National Historic Park marks the first Women's Rights Convention, and features the Wesleyan Chapel and the home of Elizabeth Stanton.
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Wrangell - St Elias National Park and PreserveThe largest national park is Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, which has glaciers, peaks, and breathtaking views.
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Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone National Park, America's first National Park, offers truly unique experiences like spectacular hiking trails, beautiful views, Old Faithful, and geysers shooting water 100 feet into the air.
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Zion National ParkUtah’s first national Park, Zion offers hiking, camping, backpacking, climbing, and more, making it a popular summer vacation spot for families and adventurers.