GLADSTONE – Hiawatha National Forest is collaborating with Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Clear Lake Education Center, Michigan State University Extension and Seney National Wildlife Refuge to connect fourth grade students to their public lands from the 2016 field trip grant awarded through the National Park Foundation.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in partnership with Hiawatha National Forest were selected to receive a 2016 field trip grant from the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, to support the Every Kid in a Park program.

The grant is part of the Foundation’s Open OutDoors for Kids program.

“These grants are planting the seeds for lifelong relationships with national parks and their programs,” said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. “By providing access to transformative experiences like listening to the sound of birds chirping, walking the halls of a school that tell a civil rights story, looking up at a dark night sky, or pitching a tent with a friend for the first time, these children are forever impacted. We appreciate the power of national parks and, through our support, the National Park Foundation hopes to share them with as many kids as possible.”

Hiawatha National Forest in partnership with Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Clear Lake Education Center, Michigan State University Extension and Seney National Wildlife Refuge are teaming up to offer field trip opportunities to fourth grade classes within the three local school districts: Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District and Marquette Alger Regional Educational Service Agency. Awarded schools will receive the transportation funds to take a field trip to one of the national treasures found in their backyard. By the end of this school year, 750 students will have engaged in hands-on activities that will provide multiple avenues to explore, learn and play.

Interagency Education Specialist Melissa O’Donnell stated: “We are thrilled to receive this grant and work with our partners to connect fourth graders to public lands in the Upper Peninsula. Every fourth grader that participates in this program will receive the Every Kid in a Park pass.”