FORT LARNED — Fort Larned National Historic Site has been selected to receive a 2013 “Ticket to Ride” grant from the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official charity of America’s national parks.
The Ticket to Ride program, supported by a $500,000 grant from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, helps students explore the outdoors by providing transportation and program support to national parks around the country.
“Fort Larned National Historic Site and its Friends group the Fort Larned Old Guard have been working to assist schools with the cost of bringing students to participate in activities at the frontier army fort. The Ticket To Ride grant will allow increased participation in education programs and tours as well as the hands-on activity stations offered at Fort Larned during the Kansas Kids Fitness and Safety Day.
The students learn, while in a national park setting, about the historic and natural significance of a national park as well as the importance and enjoyment of outdoor physical activities” said Fort Larned Superintendent Kevin McMurry.
For many students, the Ticket to Ride field trip will be their first visit to a national park. Recognizing that once in the parks a world of experiential learning opens up, the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service are dedicated to providing this crucial access to the parks. Through these field trips, young people discover their natural, cultural and historical heritage, participate in volunteer and service-learning activities, enjoy recreational opportunities and most importantly, begin a lifelong relationship with their national parks.
“Providing the means for America’s youth to experience all that our national park system has to offer is imperative,” said Neil Mulholland, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “Disney’s support has helped make it possible for us to engage thousands of young people in life changing park experiences, and ultimately inspiring the next generation of park enthusiasts.”
Now in its second year and with continued support from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and Disney Friends for Change, “Ticket to Ride” provides financial resources for transportation, in-park educational programming, and meals that make national park field trips possible for schools across the country.
The grant from Disney will help more than 60,000 students to experience location-based learning in their local national parks this year. Disney is committed to connecting kids to nature, ensuring they appreciate and understand the beauty and value of our natural resources.
In addition to the grant, Disney’s Friends for Change – a program that inspires students and families to make a positive impact on their world by helping people and the planet — developed a public service announcement (PSA) that will air on Disney Channel and Disney Online.
The spot encourages students and families to explore the outdoors, whether at a local, state, or national park. Disney Friends for Change also created an online action kit (disney.com/ friends) that helps families plan a park visit in four easy steps and provides ideas on park activities ranging from hikes to wildlife exploration.
For more information about Ticket to Ride, corporate partners and ways to support this and the other exceptional National Park Foundation programs, go to www.nationalparks.org.