BISMARCK — The North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction have announced a partnership to expand, enhance and support outdoor learning opportunities for North Dakota public, private and homeschooled students through September 2024.

The partnership provides funding and support for 24 outdoor educational field days for students at the sixth-grade level (10-12 years of age); individualized student field-trip experiences for all grade levels; funding assistance for program fees and transportation to state parks; and an expansion of the Parks & Recreation Department’s online educational video presence, The Campfire Series. The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act and programs are designed to enhance learning recovery due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ten educational field days for sixth graders will take place in 2022 that are designed for students to engage with five different outdoor-focused topics throughout the day in a state park setting. North Dakota has 13 state parks.

Field trips are also offered on a wide variety of topics for K-12 students, and educators are encouraged to contact the state parks to begin scheduling. There is a short application for field trip funding and transportation reimbursement located on the website at parkrec.nd.gov/education-interpretation.