SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 1, 2024) — The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR) announced the successful conclusion of its 2023 Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (UCORE) Grant cycle. An impressive $357,147 was awarded to 29 programs across 16 counties in Utah, with a significant focus on rural areas. This funding is set to impact more than 16,000 youth and contribute to programs with a combined value exceeding $2 million.
“Amidst an outpouring of enthusiasm and an array of compelling programs funded this cycle, we proudly reaffirm our dedication to enhancing the lives of Utah’s younger generation through outdoor recreation and education,” said Caroline Weiler, DOR’s grant program specialist. “These programs provide immediate benefits to youth, fostering a lifelong appreciation and stewardship for Utah’s magnificent natural landscapes.”
Highlights of the 2023 UCORE Grant Cycle include:
- The Mayfly Project: Receiving $6,095 for fly fishing programs for foster care youth.
- Tribal Youth Public Land Stewards: Zion National Park Forever Project’s initiative received $15,000 to connect tribal youth with traditional and ecological understanding.
- CCID Outdoor Adventure Program: The Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Discovery was funded $15,000 for various outdoor skills programs for students.
- Ophir Canyon Education Center: The Tooele Education Foundation’s project was granted $15,000 to increase participation at the center.
- Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks: $15,000 awarded for park exploration support for underserved youth in Grand County.
- Cottonwood Canyons Foundation (CCF): CCF’s ‘Snowshoe with a Naturalist Program’ received $10,000 for snowshoe field trips for 5th graders in Title 1 schools.
- For a complete list of the funded projects and more information about the UCORE Grant, please visit the link here.
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. The success of this cycle sets a promising precedent for future initiatives aimed at nurturing the connection between Utah’s youth and our natural wonders.
In addition to the UCORE Grant cycle, the DOR is excited to announce the recent opening of the 2024 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG) application cycle that runs through Friday, March 15, as well as the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Grant (OHVR) cycle that is open Thursday, Feb. 1 through Tuesday, April 2. These two programs represent the immense commitment coming from the state to support outdoor recreation, with $20 million available between the two grant programs.
This year’s UORG grant programs will further enhance Utah’s outdoor spaces and community amenities. Categories include:
- UORG Tier 1 – Focused on new outdoor recreation infrastructure projects with funding ranges from $15,001 to $200,000 for each project
- UORG Regional Asset Tier – Designed for larger-scale projects with a total value of at least $3 million; notably, rural counties benefit from a reduced 1:1 matching requirement
- UORG Mini-Grant – Ideal for smaller-scale projects, offering funds between $500 and $15,000
- Utah Outdoor Classroom Grant – Specifically for community-based nonprofit organizations or publicly funded K-12 schools aimed to engage Utah’s K-12 students in outdoor learning experiences, with awards up to $15,000
- Recreation Restoration Infrastructure Grant – Focused on restoring high-use and high-priority trails or repairing or replacing other types of developed recreation infrastructure on public lands, with grants ranging from $5,000 to $150,000.
Utah’s OHVR grant is open to cities, counties, federal agencies and nonprofit organizations and assists in sustaining, enhancing, and improving motorized recreation within the state. Grant categories include trail work, access protection and education, search and rescue, snowmobile and OHV tourism.
For more information on the UORG and OHVR grant cycles and other upcoming grant opportunities, please visit recreation.utah.gov.
###