Youth Engagement Grants
Forecasted
Youth Engagement Grants support Utah youth through outdoor recreation, education, and permanent nature-based learning spaces that help children explore, build physical skills, and lead active lives.
Funder: Division of Outdoor Recreation
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $500–$15,000 per award; 18-month contract; 20% applicant match
Summary: Supports outdoor recreation, education, and permanent nature-based learning infrastructure for youth in Utah.
Key Information: Grants are reimbursement-based; applicants needing upfront funding should contact the grant administrator.
Description
The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation’s Youth Engagement Grants support opportunities for Utah’s children to learn, explore, and build physical skills outdoors. The program combines three funding streams: Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (UCORE), UCORE Educator, and Nature-Based Learning Infrastructure. UCORE supports outdoor programming, while UCORE Educator offers a streamlined application for formal educators connecting outdoor experiences to learning objectives.
Nature-Based Learning Infrastructure replaces the Outdoor Classroom Grant and supports permanent public spaces for outdoor learning and nature-based play. Examples include school gardens, wildlife viewing stations, amphitheaters, green schoolyards, low-ropes courses, and bike pump tracks. The program complements Utah’s Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) Initiative, helping make outdoor recreation part of a healthy, active lifestyle.
