No Child Left Inside Program

No Child Left Inside Program is sponsored by Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. Supports youth outdoor education and recreation programs in Washington, specifically focusing on underserved and historically excluded youth through nature-based learning, leadership development, and outdoor recreation experiences statewide.

RCO - Washington Recreation & Conservation Office --> No Child Left Inside - Recreation and Conservation Office Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission's No Child Left Inside (NCLI) grant program provides quality opportunities for underserved, underrepresented, and historically excluded youth to learn, play, and experience the outdoors.

The Washington State Legislature established the program in 2007 with two primary goals: to improve the overall academic performance, self-esteem, health, community involvement, and connection to nature for youth; and to empower local communities to engage youth in outdoor education and recreation experiences.

Research has shown that spending time outdoors produces powerful benefits for youth, including reduced depression and anxiety, improved focus, better social connections, and enhanced learning and creativity. NCLI supports essential youth outdoor programs across the state and helps to remove barriers for youth to access the outdoors.

NCLI provides grants for a wide range of outdoor education and recreation activities including environmental education, leadership development, outdoor recreation and adventure, stewardship activities, and camp programs. RCO administers NCLI for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Grant Application Schedule Letter of Intent Opens Submittal June 15, 2026 - July 30, 2026 Letter of Intent Workshop View the recorded workshop Applicant Webinar, Applications Open Evaluation (Written Reviews) April 1, 2027 - May 1, 2027 Estimate Preliminary Ranked Lists Approved RCO Issues Grant Agreements Most recent grants and evaluation results, listed by the application year.

Electronic Signature Authorization Form 2023 Successful Applicant Webinar We have a new process this year – NCLI Letters of Intent RCO is accepting Letters of Intent (LOIs) from organizations between June 16th and July 30th, 2026. Data from the LOIs will be used to inform the Governor’s Office, the Legislature, and others about the need for funding in advance of upcoming budget discussions and funding decisions.

Although the Letter of Intent will not be scored, providing clear and succinct responses will contribute to the future of the grant program. Please submit your Letter of Intent Form by July 30th, 2026. RCO hosted a workshop explaining this new process on July 1, view the Letter of Intent Recorded Workshop The Everyone Outdoors Program provides groups with the opportunity to apply to receive free annual Discover Passes.

The program is available to Washington-based groups supporting underserved communities, youth programs, nonprofit organizations, veteran organizations, volunteer groups, and other groups that face barriers to outdoor access.

Visit the Everyone Outdoors Program website for more details Water activities such as kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, boating, fishing, and rafting Winter activities such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and snowboarding, and snow camping Overnight and day camp activities such as environmental education, outdoor skills development, hiking, and camping Outdoor adventure activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, backpacking, and archery Other activities such as outdoor cooking, survival skills, wilderness medicine, foraging, and culturally informed activities such as sense of place or nature scavenger hunts Special purpose districts, such as park and recreation districts Only organizations that benefit youth in Washington State may apply.

Grants are awarded every other year. The Legislature provides funding from general tax dollars. The interactive map and dashboard below display projects by county, funding year, and application status.

Select different map layers to display projects by school district or legislative district. Click the tabs in the upper right to select different funding years and whether projects are funded, not funded, or in application status. Zoom in on the map to see specific projects.

Clicking a project will display more details such as the grant applicant, grant amount, and links to application materials and photographs. View the interactive map and dashboard in full screen.

There are three funding categories for this grant program Tier One Projects: $5,000-$25,000 for each project Tier Two Projects: $5,000-$75,000 for each project Tier Three Projects: $75,000-$150,000 for each project There is no match requirement for projects in Tiers One and Two. A match of 25 percent is required for Tier Three projects. To qualify, a match must be composed of elements that would be eligible in the NCLI program.

Match may include the following: Donations of cash, materials, or the value of labor, equipment use, or services Applicant’s labor, equipment use, and materials Annual community festivals, expositions, promotional or fundraising events Facility construction projects Organized youth sports such as a community league or school team Teacher training programs that do not include hands-on student participation A full list of ineligible projects in the grant manual .

Equipment bought with grants should be retained for eligible or similar uses. See details in the grant manual . Beth Auerbach , outdoor grants manager, 360-280-6103 Edison Velez , outdoor grants manager, 360-340-1280 Relay Service for the hearing impaired, call 711.

Some upcoming grant application deadlines may be adjusted due to the government shutdown. Find deadline updates on the corresponding grant pages. PRISM, RCO’s database for grant project management, is unavailable.

Thank you for your patience as we work to get it back online.