Youth in Parks - Environmental Education (YIP-EE) Grant is sponsored by North Carolina Friends of State Parks, Inc.. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Friends of State Parks, Inc. - YIP-EE New Prospective Board Member Form Brand Guidelines and Logos NC State Park License Plate Membership New Prospective Board Member Form Brand Guidelines and Logos NC State Park License Plate Membership If you are also visiting a NC Natural or Cultural site, you may qualify for additional funding. Apply for a "Learning Happens Here" grant courtesy of NC Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Youth in Parks - Environmental Education (YIP-EE) Our state parks preserve some of North Carolina’s greatest examples of geology, ecology and cultural history. North Carolina Friends of State Parks, Inc. is focused on supporting public schools in the effort to utilize our state parks as an outdoor classroom.

Research shows that when people explore and learn in the outdoors, they are healthier, happier, and are more likely to conserve the natural world in the future. Thank you for your interest in our Youth in Parks - Environmental Education (YIP-EE) grant opportunity! YIP-EE grants are awarded with the mission of focusing attention on getting students outside the classroom and into North Carolina State Parks.

This grant opportunity is available to North Carolina Public Schools in order to aid in the cost for traveling to and from a North Carolina State Park. YIP-EE funding requires a partnership between a state park, classroom teachers, and North Carolina Friends of State Parks. This partnership is essential to a grant being awarded and a successful state park experience.

Before applying for the YIP-EE grant, it is required that you contact the state park you wish to visit and speak with a park representative to make arrangements for your trip. Find contact information and educational programming opportunities about State Park field trips at NCParks.

gov The Friends of State Parks YIP-EE grant program has given thousands of North Carolina Public School children the opportunity to discover, explore, and enjoy our naturally wonderful State Parks system. Funding for this grant is available through the generosity of our members and revenue collected from the NC state park license plates. Apply today to get your classroom outside!

Common Questions & Things to Know Before Applying When should I apply for a YIP-EE grant? We accept YIP-EE grant applications during the calendar for trips taken in that same year. We will not review an application for a trip that is taking place the next year.

For example: an application submitted in 2025 for a Spring 2026 trip will not be reviewed until 2026. This allows the committee to review trips needing funding sooner and during our fiscal year in order to support as many schools as possible with available funds.

Also keep in mind that before applying it is required that a school representative contact the state park your school wishes to visit and speak with a park representative to make arrangements for your trip. If an educational program has not been scheduled with the chosen park, your application could be denied. How much funding can I request?

We encourage you to request the full amount of funding needed for transportation or transportation related costs in order for students and chaperones to arrive at the desired state park location. Typically, YIP-EE grant requests awarded have averaged between $100-$2500. Past awards have funded the cost of using school district owned buses, cost of hired charter buses, and hiring a bus driver.

Do you fund requests from any schools other than NC public schools? We accept any application from an educational entity that serves NC students. This includes NC Public Schools, public charter schools, homeschools, or private school groups,etc. When will I know if my school has been awarded the grant?

We try our best to respond to grant applications as soon as they come in to our office. We strive to notify applicants within 6 weeks of a completed and submitted application once a decision has been reached on their request for funding. During peak application seasons, this timeline may be longer as we are responding to many applications.

If awarded funding, how do I receive the funds? NCFSP will send a check via post mail or have the funds deposited directly into the school account. No checks will be made out to a school representative directly.

What do I need to do after my school has been awarded the YIP-EE grant? First, give yourself a treat for a job well done. Second, confirm the date of your trip, arrival times, and any other travel related logistics with a park representative.

Third, e njoy your school's experience at the state park. Lastly, NCFSP will ask for a brief grant report upon completion of your State Park visit. This report will include at least 5 student created pieces of work which can be pictures, art, videos, thank you cards, etc, as well as how many people attended the trip and a final cost of the trip.

More information will be sent to you upon a grant approval decision. If you have further questions, please email YIP-EE@ncfsp. org or our Associate Director, Cynthia Peedin at cynthia@ncfsp.

org . Photos from a FSP sponsored field trip to Eno River State Park Letters from Satisfied Customers! - Hanging Rock State Park Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software