LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES, KY/TN-Land Between The Lakes is one of 186 federal sites selected to receive a 2016 field trip grant from the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks. The grant will help offset transportation costs for students staying at Brandon Spring Group Center, an overnight group facility that focuses on environmental education. This grant, part of the Foundation's Open OutDoors for Kids program<http://www.nationalparks.org/ook/about>, supports the White House youth initiative Every Kid in a Park<https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/02/19/fact-sheet-launching-every-kid-park-initiative-and-designating-new-natio>. "It is inspiring to see the National Park Foundation and many other partners step up to support our goal of getting fourth graders and their families into parks, public lands and waters that belong to all Americans," said U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell. "These generous grants will ensure children across the country have an opportunity to experience the great outdoors in their community while developing a lifelong connection to our nation's land, water, and wildlife." National Park Foundation grants have made it possible for more than 400,000 students (including this year's grantees) to visit national parks and other public lands and waters. "We want to help people everywhere, from all backgrounds, discover how national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and other public lands and waters are relevant to their lives, and the best way to do that is to give people the opportunity to experience them first-hand," said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. "Through our grants that provide funding for transportation and in-park learning, we are able to connect youth and their families to these special places and inspire people across the country to find their park which, in turn, can foster a lifelong connection to all that public lands and waters have to offer." The grant will benefit around 240 students staying at Brandon Spring by offsetting transportation costs for schools. Students staying at Brandon Spring Group Center<http://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/seendo/environmental-education/brandon-spring/> have a chance to learn about the environment and complete Jr. Forest Ranger activities before and after their stays. Students with 4th grade passes will also have a chance to visit the Homeplace 1850s Working Farm<http://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/seendo/attractions/homeplace/> and Woodlands Nature Station<http://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/seendo/attractions/nature-station/> for free. "We are excited to be a recipient of this grant that will offset travel expenses for 4th grade classes," said Jeff Laird, Customer Service Manager at Land Between The Lakes. "Visits to Brandon Spring provide hands-on outdoor learning opportunities that enhance classroom lessons and give students an opportunity to apply what they learn." For the full list of grantees and their projects, visit www.nationalparks.org/everykidinapark<http://www.nationalparks.org/everykidinapark>. ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America's national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org<http://www.nationalparks.org>.