Blog

Blog Entries - outdoor education

Three young people wave from the bow of a sailboat
Photo courtesy of SailMaine

Grantee Spotlight: SailMaine

Based in Portland, Maine, SailMaine promotes affordable access to the water through community sailing and education programs. NRF funding supports the City Sailors program, which offers free sailing lessons and

read more …
A group of kids gather around a counselor holding a turtle
Photo courtesy of Camp Fire

New Report Sheds Light on Gender Affirming Practices for Youth

NRF knows that outdoor recreation is a powerful tool for positive youth development. We also know that this can only be successful when everyone feels welcome and safe in every sense of the word – mentally,

read more …
a child leans in while holding a camera up to their eye
Photo courtesy of Parks in Focus

Grantee Spotlight: Parks in Focus

Sometimes it can feel as though kids are asked to choose between their interests instead of being celebrated for engaging with lots of different kinds of activities. They can either excel at dance or science,

read more …
A young man sits in a wheelchair next to a plant

NC State Research Team Supports Grantee Evaluation Efforts

As part of NRF’s ongoing collaboration with Tom’s of Maine, we are able to offer cohorts of grantees support in developing and deepening organizational evaluation efforts. To do this, we partner with a team of

read more …
a young man uses tools to hand build a boat
Photo courtesy of the Camping & Education Foundation

Grantee Spotlight: Camping & Education Foundation

The Camping & Education Foundation (CEF) has been in operation for almost 100 years. For most of that time, CEF has focused on providing wilderness expedition experiences through immersive summer camp programs in the

read more …
A little boy smiles while leaning on a tree stump in the woods
Photo courtesy of Backyard Basecamp

New Cohort of Grantees Fosters Outdoor Connection

In 2021, the National Recreation Foundation (NRF) and Tom’s of Maine (TOM) decided to work together to ensure that the next generation of kids has more equitable access to outdoor recreation and education experiences

read more …