King County Gets $450K In 'No Child Left Inside' Grants

ISSAQUAH, WA — Seven King County organizations this month were awarded a portion of the $1.3 million in grants designed to incentivize children to get outside and explore Washington's parks, forests, and other natural areas. Doled out by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the No Child Left Inside grants focus specifically on funding local programs that provide opportunities for outdoor education and recreation for under-served youth.

Gov. Jay Inslee last week announced the distribution and beneficiaries of the 2019 grants, which in King County include The Mountaineers, the Seattle YMCA, and the North Seattle Family Resource Center.

"This is about investing in our kids and making sure they have equal access to the outdoors," Inslee said in a statement. "We know that kids who spend time outdoors do better in school, are less stressed and get more exercise and social interaction. Some of my best childhood memories happened outdoors, and this funding is a big part of making sure these opportunities — to learn, grow and discover the world around us — are open to everyone."

According to the grant distributor, the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (WSRCO), the state-wide grants throughout the next year will help get children outside to participate in a plethora of activities, spending an estimated one million hours or more hiking, rock climbing, and more.

Awarded every two years since its inception in 2008, the No Child Left Inside grant program is in its fourth cycle, officials said, noting this particular cycle saw the greatest increase in submitted applications — 44 percent more than the previous cycle.

"That kind of growth shows an unparalleled level of support for this program and what it means for kids' health, emotional development, attention spans, understanding and overall happiness," WSRCO Director Kaleen Cottingham said. "With only enough funding for about 16 percent of the $8 million requested, it also represents how critical the need is in communities across Washington."

More than 170 applicants submitted a grant proposal, officials said; and the counties that were awarded grants will match the state funding, doubling the total award to about $3 million statewide.

"State Parks is excited about this grant program that gets young people outdoors for healthy recreation and environmental education," State Parks Director Don Hoch said in a statement. "We are seeing more and more studies show how important getting outdoors is for our health, so we are thrilled to offer this opportunity to the youth of Washington. We also are thankful to the Recreation and Conservation Office for working with us and administering this valuable program."

The $446,000 in King County grants will be distributed as follows, with a brief description of each award provided by Washington State Parks:

YMCA of Greater Seattle, Grant Awarded: $150,000

The YMCA of Greater Seattle will use this grant to offer outdoor leadership development programs (OLD). The boys’ BOLD and the girls’ GOLD is expected to serve 2,000 youth and takes place in the summer, during the school year, and on weekends. Participants benefit from unique recreational experiences such as backpacking, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, orienteering, river rafting, mountaineering, art, yoga, music, and creative writing—with environmental outdoor educational components woven into each adventure. The mission of BOLD & GOLD is to inspire leadership, courage, and friendship in young people from different backgrounds through outdoor adventures. The program has helped youth develop tools to resist or leave gangs, reach out for help with mental illness, and stay in school. The YMCA will contribute $1.7 million in donations of cash.

North Seattle Family Resource Center, Grant Awarded: $25,000

The North Seattle Family Resource Center will use this grant to offer its summer outdoor recreation program for 230 minority, low-income youth. The Center will offer camping, kayaking, hiking, cooking outdoors, beachcombing, and nature walks in state parks. The goal is to empower youth by giving them the tools to boost self-esteem, become leaders in their communities, improve their grades, and overcome fears of outdoor recreation. The North Seattle Family Resource Center will contribute $7,895 in staff labor and in-kind services.

The Mountaineers, Grant Awarded: $150,000

The Mountaineers will use this grant to offer Mountain Workshops, which provides outdoor

experiences for at-risk and low-income youth, ages 6 to 20, who otherwise could not afford outdoor adventures. Mountain Workshops offer year-round outdoor activities such as rock climbing, hiking, camping, cooking, and snowshoeing in state and national parks. The Mountaineers partner with local youth-serving agencies to deliver single- or multi-day experiences. The Mountaineers will contribute $54,075 in a private grant and donations of labor and materials.

Peak 7 Adventures, Grant Awarded: $4,200

Peak 7 Adventures will use this grant to fund expansion and continuation of the Seattle Rock Climbing program, providing guide services, gear, and trip scholarships to organizations serving low-income and marginalized youth in King County and surrounding areas. Populations served include youth in treatment for addiction; in correction programs; who are homeless; who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning; who are refugees; and who are low-income. Most participants are 11 to 18 years old. Peak 7 Adventures teaches beginning climbing techniques, encouraging respect for the environment and emphasizing lessons from the activity that apply to daily life. The goal of the program is to break down barriers that prevent kids from getting outside by offering low-cost, high-quality outdoor climbing trips. The rock climbing trips provide an adventure experience that builds self-confidence, fosters community growth, and boosts mental and physical health through exercise and connection to nature. Peak 7 Adventure served 265 participants in 2018, and has served more than 1,700 since it started in 2010. Peak 7 Adventures will contribute $9,826 in donations of cash and labor.

Greenplay Northwest, Grant Awarded: $25,000

Greenplay Northwest will use this grant to develop and implement The Willow Project, a nature based program for homeless children up to 6 years old and their caregivers. Mentors will meet with 60 children and their caregivers, who are living in shelters in southeast King County, once a week to facilitate outdoor activities such as nature immersion, sensory play, walking and wandering, guided nature art, and story and songs. The goal is to mitigate the harmful effects of negative childhood experiences by connecting homeless kids to the many benefits provided by spending time in nature. The mentors also will provide rain boots and educational resources on the benefits of nature play to reduce the barriers for homeless children to get outside. Greenplay Northwest will contribute $9,000 in another grant and donations of cash.

Young Women Empowered, Grant Awarded: $75,000

Young Women Empowered will use this grant to fund its Nature Connections program, which provides women ages 12-18 with outdoor recreation, environmental education, and stewardship activity programs. About 70 percent of Young Women Empowered participants are first- or second-generation immigrants and 85 percent are minorities. As part of Nature Connections, youth and mentors will learn about the natural world as they hike, rock climb, backpack, camp, snowshoe, kayak, garden, engage in hands-on stewardship, and more. Young Women Empowered provides expert guidance, safety, cultural respect, transportation, and meals for all activities. Young Women Empowered will contribute $136,356 in other grants and donations of labor and materials.

King County, Grant Awarded: $17,770

The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ White Center Teen Program will use this grant to help 100 local youth participate in its Get Out and Learn (GOAL) program between this fall and the summer of 2021. The program includes outdoor education at the White Center Community Center and ten field trips to parks, where youth can hike, camp, bike, kayak, snowshoe, and watch wildlife. The program teaches youth about leadership, problem solving, teamwork, water safety, environmental awareness, and nutrition. The County will contribute $20,000 in equipment, staff labor, materials, and in-kind services.