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School field trips to state parks, lakes can get state funding help

Educators interested in taking students, grades K-12, on field trips to an Indiana state park or state-managed lake in the 2015-16 school year can receive financial help through the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation.

The Discovering the Outdoors Field Trip Grant Program is for public, private, parochial or home-school educators. In 2014, the program benefited more than 1,500 K-12 students from 20 schools.

Indiana has 24 state parks and eight state-managed lakes eligible for field trip funding that will engage students in learning about Indiana’s fish, forest, wildlife, natural habitats and conservation.

The maximum grant award is $250 per application.

Applications are accepted from May 1 through June 30 prior to the school year for which the grant is requested. Applications must be postmarked no later than June 30.

Applicants will be notified by Aug. 1 regarding potential grant awards.
The grant application is at IN.gov/inrf/educate .html.

The INRF is accepting donations to the fund from individuals, businesses or anyone who supports the idea of getting kids outdoors.

The fund was established in memory of Tom Huck, a longtime DNR employee who was an ardent supporter of outdoor experiences for children.

For further information, including how to donate, email DiscoverOutdoorsGrants@dnr.IN.gov.