Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park Receives National Park Foundation Grant for Overnight Teacher Workshops

Mammoth Cave, KY (February 7th, 2022) - The Friends of Mammoth Cave (FOMC) received an Open OutDoors for Kids grant from the National Park Foundation (NPF). This grant will enable 20 Kentucky teachers to attend an overnight workshop that focuses on the history of Mammoth Cave National Park. Teachers will learn about early settlers to the area, history of the enslaved guides who first explored and led tours in Mammoth Cave, and ways the national park supports the community present day.  

“The park is very excited and honored to be awarded this grant from the FOMC and NPF,” said Jennifer Shackelford, Education Specialist for Mammoth Cave National Park. “The money they are providing will help our Environmental Education team teach valuable skills to teachers and provide opportunities for hundreds of students from our local communities and across the Commonwealth to learn about the history of Mammoth Cave National Park.” 

The grant will directly fund accommodations for each teacher during the overnight workshop, pay for hands-on manipulatives to use upon return to their classrooms, and will assist with the funding needed for field trips to the park for the students of each teacher. At the end of the workshops, teachers will return to their classrooms with a new knowledge of Mammoth Cave National Park and have the tools needed to guide their students in their newly learned lessons.

If you are interested in attending one of the overnight workshops please email Maca_Environmental_Ed@nps.gov to learn about available workshop dates. Workshops are open to 4th-8th grade teachers and will be offered March 16-17, 2022 and July 13-14, 2022. Teachers will be selected on a first come, first served basis from emails received. Educational trips for each classroom will take place in late spring 2022 or fall 2023. 

Since 2011, NPF has engaged more than one million students in educational programs connecting them with national parks across the country. NPF’s goal is to connect another one million students to parks by the end of the 2024-25 school year.

“National parks are America’s largest classrooms, and Open OutDoors for Kids seeks to connect as many kids as possible to them,” said National Park Foundation President and CEO Will Shafroth. “With parks, learning is fun, memorable, and hands-on. Parks open kids’ eyes to the wonder and complexities of nature and history, sharing diverse perspectives that offer a wider understanding of our country’s progress and struggles.” 

The NPF Open OutDoors for Kids program is made possible by private philanthropy, including support from Youth Engagement and Education premier partner Union Pacific Railroad, and supporting partner GoGo squeeZ. Additional funding is provided by Alicia and Peter Pond, Apple, Columbia Sportswear, Sierra, Parks Project, Humana, The Batchelor Foundation, Inc., and many other donors.

Learn more about NPF’s efforts to engage students with national parks as classrooms.
 
ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK
Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park is the non-profit partner of Mammoth Cave National Park and works to fund projects and programs that protect, preserve, and enhance the natural and cultural resources and visitor experience at Mammoth Cave. For more information about Friends or to become a Friend of the park, please visit www.friendsofmammothcave.org.
 
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation works to protect wildlife and park lands, preserve history and culture, educate and engage youth, and connect people everywhere to the wonder of parks. We do it in collaboration with the National Park Service, the park partner community, and with the generous support of donors, without whom our work would not be possible. Learn more at www.nationalparks.org.