Vannra Yan
American Hiking Society is proud to announce the 2024 National Trails Day® micro-grant program. The grant is designed to reduce barriers for underrepresented communities to participate in meaningful events in celebration of the 32nd annual American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® on June 1, 2024.
Three communities, affinity groups, or events organized by underrepresented communities in the outdoors will be eligible to receive $1,500 each in funding to support an in-person event for National Trails Day®.
Funding can be used towards transportation costs, hands-on materials, stewardship supplies, gear library products, food (excluding alcohol), event promotion, and any other materials needed for an inclusive trail experience. Events should include outdoor recreation opportunities and/or a trail service project. Grassroots advocacy activations are permitted at these events.
Grant applications are due by April 12, 2024. Grant recipients will be notified by April 23, 2024.
Learn about the events to receive a grant in 2023.
Requirements:
- Event should be organized by and for identities that have faced barriers to outdoor recreation, leadership, and stewardship. Preference will be given to events that center around People of Color, Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQIA-2 identities, people with disabilities, and intersectional groups.
- Event can include any type of outdoor recreation on any type of land or water trail in any urban, suburban, rural, or wilderness setting.
- Event must have a reasonable likelihood of including at least 15 participants.
- Event should take place on June 1, 2024.
- Event must be registered on the American Hiking Society National Trails Day® event database by May 1, 2024.
- Primary event point of contact must be 18 years or older or must list a co-organizer who is over 18.
- Applicants shall not have a direct relationship to any American Hiking Society staff, board members, foundations, or sponsors.
- Event must align with American Hiking Core Values and Commitment to All Hikers.
- Organizers for events that receive the grant must agree to:
- Provide photos and short event description with American Hiking Society for its use in announcing grant winners and promoting National Trails Day® and the winning events by May 1, 2024 (appropriate credit will be given for all content).
- Submit a proposed budget no later than May 1, 2024.
- Share photos and video clips (selected by the organizer) of their events with American Hiking Society for use in social media posts and other communications after National Trails Day® (appropriate credit will be given for all content) by June 10, 2024.
- Complete and submit an expense report with the following questions by July 1, 2024.
- How many people participated in the event?
- Please briefly describe the activities that took place at your event. (less than 500 words)
- How did the event reduce barriers or increase access to the outdoors? (less than 300 words)
- Please describe at least TWO unique moments or stories from the event that highlight the impact of the event on your community and or the event participants. (Less than 200 words for each story)
- Optional: How could American Hiking improve the NTD grant process in the future?
- Consent to the AHS Media Agreement
- Tag @americanhiking and #NationalTrailsDay in any social media posts about their event. Likewise, American Hiking Society will be sure to tag any accounts and hashtags requested by the event organizer in its promotion of the event.
