Featured Programs & Activities
No Child Left Inside: Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program

As children spend more time indoors watching television or on computers, they are not getting the experiences and benefits of enjoying the outdoors. To turn this trend around, the Washington State Legislature established the No Child Left Inside grants program in March 2008 (WAC 352-80), making $1.5 million available to Washington state outdoor education and recreation programs for youth. Only one other state has granted state funds to outdoor education and recreation programs.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission administers the program and selected 25 programs (pdf) across the state for funding in 2008. Some examples of the criteria used to evaluate the proposals include:

• Provide for innovative ways to increase the availability and use of outdoor recreation facilities
• Contribute to healthy lifestyles through outdoor recreation and sound nutrition
• Use state park and other natural resource venues and personnel as a resource

Due to the current economic climate resulting in significant budget cuts to state government agencies, the No Child Left Inside program has not been funded for the 2009 – 2011 budget cycle.

Featured: Winter 2009