Adventure Pass Grants Program

Adventure Pass Grants Program

Geographic Scope: California statewide (19 initial locations, expanded to 54 participating parks as of November 2023)

Focus Areas:

Eligibility:

Program Description:
Designed and facilitated by Parks California in partnership with California State Parks, this program was created to help non-profits and local community organizations facilitate visits for fourth graders and their families to state parks. The Adventure Pass provides free entry for fourth graders and their families at participating state parks. The grant program addresses barriers such as lack of transportation, logistics challenges, and culturally-relevant programming at parks.

Background: The California State Park Adventure Pass was championed by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and launched by California State Parks to encourage young people to build relationships with parks and outdoor spaces. As of the 2023 expansion, more than 50,000 passes have been provided to families.

Benefits of Program: Studies indicate spending time in parks and greenspace leads to improvements in physical well-being, social and emotional learning, and academic outcomes, with children experiencing reduced stress and demonstrating more enthusiasm for school.

Grant Cycle: February – December (2023 round)

Expected Impact: 2023 grants expected to help approximately 1,200 fourth graders and 2,700 family members access participating state parks.