No Child Left Inside: Pierce County Awarded $144,962 Grant

TACOMA, WA — Four Pierce 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 underserved youth.

Gov. Jay Inslee last week announced the distribution and beneficiaries of the 2019 grants, which in Pierce County include Catholic Community Services Tacoma, the Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center, Hope Inspired Change, and Pierce County Parks and Recreation.

"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/or kayaking.

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," said WSRCO Director Kaleen Cottingham. "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."

Along with Pierce County's $144,962 grant, the following counties were also awarded:

• Benton County - $25,000
• Chelan County - $4,200
• Clark County - $15,100
• Cowlitz County - $24,998
• Grays Harbor County - $9,160
• Jefferson County - $49,980
• King County - $446,970
• Mason County - $136,490
• San Juan County - $24,963
• Skagit County - $25,000
• Snohomish County - $20,958
• Spokane County - $104,580
• Thurston County - $149,931
• Whatcom County - $124,200
• Yakima County - $43,510

The Pierce County awards will be distributed as follows, with a brief description of each award provided by Washington State Parks:

Catholic Community Services Tacoma - Grant Awarded: $25,000

• Helping Youth Who Live in Foster Homes Explore Washington

Catholic Community Services Tacoma will use this grant to help 250 youth who live in foster homes to explore the world around them. Youth will take day trips to parks, learn about salmon spawning, and visit Snoqualmie Pass to experience the snow.

Students will kayak at Boston Harbor, learn about marine life on the Puget Sound, and visit Northwest Trek to learn and experience wildlife. The trips will include environmental education, water safety tips, and an introduction to environmental stewardship principles.

In addition to an increased awareness of the outdoors, kids also will gain improved physical and mental well-being and opportunities to grow their self-esteem. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project.

Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center - Grant Awarded: $25,000

• Investing in Kids’ Outdoor Experiences in the Tacoma Area

The Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center will use this grant to help about 300 children participate in its Tacoma Outdoor Learning Opportunities program. The program runs from June to August and focuses on serving children of parents in substance abuse recovery or mental health services, kids in its summer preschool program, and elementary school age kids, including those in foster homes and staying with other family members.

The program encourages social and emotional development, a healthy lifestyle, and enthusiastic learning, and models how to invest in their environment. Activities include outdoor experiments, field trips, and family activities. Students will be educated about, exposed to, and then provided opportunities to help care for developed, marine, and historical locations.

Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project.

Hope Inspired Change - Grant Awarded: $25,000

• Helping Girls Find Therapy in Biking

Hope Inspired Change will use this grant to support its Therapy on Wheels program, which will serve 10 girls of color ages 12 to 17 for 36 weeks, starting in June.

Therapy on Wheels introduces girls to cycling, improves their physical well-being, teaches them road safety, and bike maintenance, all while exploring their community and the world around them. Girls will learn leadership skills, build self-esteem and confidence, and learn how to become productive citizens while engaging positively with adults and peers.

Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project.

Pierce County Parks and Recreation - Grant Awarded: $69,962

• Giving Rural Pierce County Youth Access to the Outdoors

Pierce County Parks and Recreation Services will use this grant to provide court-associated youth in rural Pierce County access to nature and outdoor recreation experiences. Teens, ages 13-17, will participate in six, 7-hour sessions once a week throughout the program.

Sessions will focus on environmental education, leadership, hands-on stewardship service projects, and activities such as rock climbing, canoeing, fishing, hiking, etc.

Five sessions will occur in a regional park in the youth's local community, with one week at a state-park destination. The County will contribute $87,260 in in-kind services.

Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project.