American Hiking, with support from the U.S. Forest Service, is proud to announce the first-of-its-kind National Trails Day® Community Grant. The grant is designed to reduce barriers for underrepresented communities to organize meaningful events in celebration of the 30th annual American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® on June 4, 2022.

A minimum of four events organized by underrepresented communities, affinity groups, or clubs in the outdoors will be eligible to receive up to $4,000 each in funding to support an in-person event for National Trails Day® at a National Forest or National Grassland site. Additional funding may be available for an event photographer (please indicate interest in the application).

Funding can be used towards transportation costs, hands-on materials, stewardship supplies, gear library products, food, event promotion, and any other materials needed for a full trail experience. Events should include outdoor recreation opportunities and/or a trail service project. Grassroots advocacy activations are permitted at these events but associated costs cannot be covered by the grant.

The application deadline is April 17, 2022, at 11:59 pm PDT.

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 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 must be registered on the American Hiking Society National Trails Day® event database within one week if selected as a recipient.
• Event must take place on a National Forest or National Grassland site.
• Primary event point of contact must be 18 years or older or must list a Co-Organizer who is over 18.
• Organizers for events that receive the grant must agree to:
  • Share photos and a short event description with American Hiking and the USDA Forest Service ahead of National Trails Day® for their use in announcing grant winners and promoting National Trails Day® and the winning events (appropriate credit will be given for all content).
  • Share photos and videos (selected by the organizer) of their events with American Hiking and the USDA Forest Service for use in social media posts and other communications after National Trails Day® (appropriate credit will be given for all content).
  • Consent to the American Hiking Media Agreement.
  • Tag @americanhiking and #NationalTrailsDay in any social media posts about their event.  Likewise, American Hiking will be sure to tag any accounts and hashtags requested by the event organizer in its promotion of the event (provided the hashtags align with our Core Values and Commitment to All Hikers).
  • Complete a report stating how the grant was used and justifying how it met the criteria of the grant.
  • Complete a W-9 tax document

The grant application period is now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted an application.