Montana Students on the Land Travel Grants
Montana Students on the Land Travel Grants
formerly known as Open Outdoors for Kids (OOK) Travel Grants
Glacier National Park and the Montana Environmental Education Association (MEEA) have partnered to give Montana students meaningful opportunities to connect with their public lands.
The Montana Students on the Land Travel Grants are administered by Glacier National Park, with MEEA serving as the nonprofit partner. MEEA supports the program by helping to determine award recipients and managing funds provided by the National Park Foundation.
Grant Review and Requirements
Grant applications are reviewed monthly and will continue to be awarded on a rolling basis while funds remain available. All field trips must be completed and grant checks cashed by June 1, 2025. Applicants must specify the public or tribal land site they plan to visit, ensuring it aligns with the goals of the Montana Students on the Land Grant Program. Educators who receive a grant must agree to submit a post-visit report, which includes at least one photo from the field trip.
Preference will be given to applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Clearly describe how their project will include all three components: a pre-visit lesson, the field day experience, and post-visit activities. (For example, incorporating interpretive or educational programs at the public land site.)
- Are from a Title I school during the 2024–25 school year (for school-based applicants).
- Serve a group or classroom with a majority of fourth-grade students.
- Represent underrepresented geographic areas within Montana.
For answers to commonly asked questions, please refer to our FAQ sheet.
If you have additional questions, contact us at glac_education@nps.gov.
MT Students on the Land OOK Grants are intended to lower or remove cost barriers for field trips to tribal or public lands. The funding provides primarily transportation assistance to elementary classes, with an emphasis on 4th grade students. A further primary concern is providing outdoor education opportunities to Title I schools and those from underserved and disadvantaged areas of Montana.
The application process encourages schools and teachers to use a three-aspect approach to outdoor education by conducting pre- and post-visit activities in conjunction with their field trip. Teachers awarded grants are asked to submit an on-line post-visit survey with photos to the Glacier National Park offices who manage the program.
