National Park Foundation Grants Fund Student Science Programs

The Field Science program aims to bridge the gap between textbook theory and real-world application. By collaborating with local schools and community centers, the foundation is facilitating diverse educational opportunities, ranging from wildfire investigation in North Cascades National Park to fossil excavation at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. These projects are designed to cultivate critical thinking while fostering a long-term sense of environmental stewardship among participants.

Specific efforts include the Oakland Unified School District’s multi-year outdoor literacy curriculum and the Ecologik Institute’s work at Cabrillo National Monument, where students analyze data alongside professional mentors. NPF Chief Program Officer Mike Reynolds noted that these programs help students visualize conservation and scientific research as viable career paths. By providing access to professional tools and environments, the foundation seeks to show that these protected spaces are not just historical sites, but active laboratories for the next generation of scientists.