Discover the Outdoors: Record Year of Outdoor Education Ahead
With the 2024-25 school year well underway, students have settled into new and old routines; however, the routines of the more than 4,800 Hoosier students who will venture to an Indiana State Park for a Discover the Outdoors field trip will be interrupted by an exciting day of outdoor learning and exploration.
Those students are participating in a milestone year for the Discover the Outdoors grant program. The program high of nearly $25,000 expected to be distributed this year will allow a record number of students to experience a day in the outdoors.
Offered in partnership with Indiana State Parks, Discover the Outdoors was established in 2013 in memory of longtime DNR employee Tom Huck. An advocate for DNR’s interpretive programs, Huck’s memory lives on through the educational and interactive field trips that more than 25,000 students have taken part in.
Students learn about Prophetstown State Park’s grassland habitat.
The anticipation for the 2024-25 school year began earlier than normal for applying educators. In the spring, we shared an exciting update that the possible grant amount increased to $500 per application. This impactful increase in funding is made possible by the continued generosity of our donors. Each gift toward Discover the Outdoors helps educate the next generation of Hoosier conservationists.
“We have always supported education, and we love the outdoors. As volunteers at our local school, we’ve realized that some children lack experiences out in nature. What better way to combine the two interests than by supporting the Discover the Outdoors program?” – Kerry & Alice Richmond, dedicated INRF donors
Discover the Outdoors has benefited students in all corners of the Hoosier State. Trips have visited nearly every Indiana State Parks property, and each one is unique opportunity for students to learn about Indiana’s wildlife, flora, and cultural history.
At Prophetstown earlier this year, students spent their day learning about the park’s grasslands and fens, wildlife that’s unique to the area, and its expansive Native American cultural history. A little more than two hours south, students at Brown County State Park received educational programming on the area’s dense forests, deep valleys, and native reptiles. The differences between these two trips showcase the diversity of Indiana’s natural resources and the importance of educating the next generation.
Students interact with a prairie king snake at Brown County State Park.
“The Discover the Outdoors field trip grant program removes barriers, providing access to life-changing educational experiences for all students. I believe our youngest visitors are better equipped to be future decision makers when they have opportunities to step outside the classroom for immersive experiences outdoors.” – Jenna Parks Freeman, Prophetstown’s interpretive naturalist.
We can fund these important educational trips and more thanks to generous support from our donors and partners. Please consider helping us show the next generation the importance of conservation by donating today.
Discover the Outdoors applications are accepted May 1–June 30 each year. Any educator in a school, school district, or home school group can apply.