SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 12, 2025) – The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR) has awarded $735,300 in grants to support 57 outdoor recreation education projects across the state, aiming to serve more than 21,500 youth and contribute to over $4.4 million in total project value.
The awards come from the Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (UCORE) grant and the Outdoor Classroom grant. Both programs help remove barriers to outdoor access by supporting programs that connect Utah’s children to nature, foster lifelong stewardship and expand outdoor learning opportunities.
“Through both our long-standing UCORE program and the new Outdoor Classroom grant, we’re helping more kids experience the joy and growth that comes from learning outside,” said Caroline Weiler, DOR’s youth engagement program manager. “These projects represent the creativity, heart, and community impact that happen when we invest in our future through outdoor learning.”
Highlights of the 2025 Youth Engagement Grant Cycle include:
UCORE Grant
- Wasatch Adaptive Sports (Salt Lake County): $15,000 to provide ski and snowboard programs for youth with disabilities.
- Zion Youth Stewards (Washington County): $15,000 to support hands-on conservation learning for local tribal youth in partnership with Zion National Park.
- School to Science – Science Moab (Grand County): $15,000 to provide field-based science learning for students in southeastern Utah.
- Camp Hope (Salt Lake County): $15,000 to offer trauma-informed outdoor experiences for children impacted by domestic violence.
- Try 4-H Adventure Clubs – USU Extension (Beaver County): $15,000 to empower teens through outdoor leadership and skill-building.
Outdoor Classroom Grant
- E.G. King Elementary (Davis County): $15,000 to build an outdoor track to enhance physical education and community use.
- Monticello Academy (Davis County): $15,000 to develop a new outdoor classroom space at its West Point campus.
- Tintic School District (Juab County): Two $15,000 grants awarded for outdoor classrooms at Eureka and West Desert Elementary Schools.
- GreenWood Charter School (Weber County): $11,000 for a hands-on outdoor heritage garden learning hub.
- For a complete list of the funded projects, please visit the link HERE.
Creating Equitable Access to the Outdoors
The funded projects represent a wide range of outdoor learning experiences, from avalanche awareness and mountain biking to gardening, archery, STEAM-based outdoor camps and tribal heritage exploration. Many of the programs specifically focus on reaching underserved communities, students with disabilities and rural areas across Utah.
“This investment is about building lifelong connections to Utah’s natural spaces,” said Weiler. “These grants are helping to break down barriers and build up the next generation of outdoor leaders, stewards and explorers.”
The UCORE Grant cycle underscores the DOR’s commitment and ongoing efforts to ensure that every child in Utah has the opportunity to experience and learn from the outdoors. This cycle’s success continues to set a precedent for future initiatives that connect Utah’s youth to the natural world.
Upcoming Grant Opportunities
Organizations interested in similar grant programs are encouraged to apply for the 2026 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG) and the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Grant (OHVR) cycles, opens today, Jan. 12 and Thursday, Jan. 15, respectively. Combined, these programs offer over $20 million in available funding to improve outdoor infrastructure and access across the state.
Upcoming Cycle Dates:
- UORG: Monday, Jan. 12 – Friday, March 13, 2026
- OHVR: Thursday, Jan. 15 – Friday, March 2, 2026
Learn more at: recreation.utah.gov/grants.
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