Northern Forest Center Offers Grants for Youth and Community Recreation

The Northern Forest Center is making it easier for youth and residents of the Northern Forest to access outdoor activities by offering grants of $1,000 - $5,000 for a wide range of recreation programs and projects. The application deadline is March 31, 2025.

“One of the things that makes living in the Northern Forest so special is the abundance of amazing outdoor recreational assets and programs, but we know that financial and other barriers often limit participation by the folks that live here,” said Joe Fox, outdoor recreation manager for the Center.

 

Municipalities, schools, nonprofit organizations, tribal organizations, and town-based committees working to increase local participation in outdoor recreation in the following counties are eligible to apply for funding: 

• New York: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Oswego, Saratoga, St. Lawrence, Warren, Washington, Fulton.
• Vermont: Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Washington.
• New Hampshire: Carroll, Coos, Grafton
• Maine: Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Washington

This grant program is possible thanks to funding from outdoor retailer L.L. Bean. Two previous rounds of grants provided $60,000 to support a wide variety of projects including: youth mountain bike programs, tool lending libraries to support trail stewardship, building a new trail to link a school and village center, youth archery, summer camp tuition offsets, and a new parking area for a public beach.

“This region is well known for outdoor recreation, but many long-time, year-round residents have been excluded from activities such as mountain biking, skiing, hiking, and paddling due to cost, lack of equipment, or insufficient opportunities at the local level,” said Fox. “We’re so pleased to offer another round of grants thanks to L.L. Bean’s continued support.”

 

Hilltopper MTB, a youth program that participates in Vermont Youth Cycling races, received a grant last year. “The physical, social, and mental benefits that come from mountain biking should not be limited only to kids of a certain socioeconomic background,” said coach James Bentley. “Thanks to this funding, we were able to make Hilltopper MTB affordable for all Northeast Kingdom families.”

Another grant enabled the Youth and Family Development program at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Clinton County in Plattsburgh, NY, to buy enough arrows to keep its youth archery program running smoothly.

Full grant guidelines and a very short application are available online. Projects that best meet the following criteria will be given preference:

• Tangibly reduce barriers to participation in outdoor recreation by youth
• Promote healthy activity
• Incorporate principles of sustainability and natural resource engagement and stewardship in programming
• Have demonstrated community support
• Identify visible or quantifiable outcomes achievable within six months of award
• Have a clear implementation plan

Requests should range between $1,000 and $5,000. The Northern Forest Center anticipates making up to 12 awards.

 

 

CUTLINE: The Northern Forest Center is offering grants of $1,000 - $5,000 to support outdoor recreation opportunities for youth and residents of Northern Forest communities.