Utah Division Of Outdoor Recreation Awarding Over $500,000 To Empower Youth Outdoor Programs

Utah Division Of Outdoor Recreation
Awarding Over $500,000
To Empower Youth Outdoor Programs

More than 23,000 youth will benefit from $503,545 in funding awarded through the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation’s (DOR) 2024 Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (UCORE) Grant. The investment supports 38 projects across 11 counties, contributing to programs with a combined value of over $2.4 million.

“Every year, our division’s UCORE Grant program inspires Utah’s youth to explore, learn from, and appreciate our incredible natural landscapes,” said Caroline Weiler, DOR’s youth engagement program manager. “This year’s cycle reflects our ongoing commitment to connecting children to the outdoors in meaningful ways, fostering stewardship and encouraging lifelong outdoor engagement.”

Highlights of the 2024 UCORE Grant Cycle include:

• Adaptive Outdoors: $15,000 awarded to Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports for year-round programming for children with disabilities in Weber County.
• Zion Youth Stewards: $15,000 awarded to Zion National Park Forever Project to teach youth stewardship principles in Washington County.
• Girls Running EmpowHERed: $15,000 awarded to St. Vincent de Paul Parish School to empower young girls through outdoor distance running programs in Salt Lake County.
• BEACON Afterschool Program: $15,000 awarded to engage Moab youth with outdoor activities in Grand County.
• Know Before You Go Youth Avalanche Education: $15,000 awarded to the Utah Avalanche Center to enhance avalanche awareness among youth in Salt Lake County.
• For a complete list of the funded projects and more information about the UCORE Grant, please visit the link here.

The complete list of funded projects spans a wide range of outdoor activities, including fly fishing, Nordic skiing, gardening, outdoor science education, adaptive recreation, and stewardship programs, all designed to inspire Utah’s youth.

The UCORE Grant cycle underscores the DOR’s commitment and ongoing efforts to ensure that every child in Utah has the opportunity to experience and learn from the outdoors. This cycle’s success continues to uphold a precedent for future initiatives to nurture the connection between Utah’s youth and our natural wonders.

Upcoming Grant Opportunities
In addition to celebrating the UCORE Grant recipients, the DOR reminds organizations that the 2025 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG) cycle is open and runs through March 17. This program offers funding opportunities for various outdoor recreation infrastructure projects. The division’s Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Grant (OHVR) spring application cycle is also open through March 31. These two grant programs represent the state’s immense commitment to supporting outdoor recreation, with more than $20 million available between them.

For more information on grant opportunities and the complete list of 2025 UCORE Grant recipients, visit recreation.utah.gov/grants.

About Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation

In 2022, the Utah State Legislature recognized the growing importance of the outdoors to Utah’s economic prosperity and quality of life and created the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR). As part of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, DOR combines the nation’s first Office of Outdoor Recreation with other state recreation management programs, including Utah’s Boating Program, Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Program, and recreation law enforcement officers. DOR is committed to ensuring every Utahn can live a healthy and active lifestyle through outdoor recreation and access to natural space. DOR’s areas of focus include recreational access, safety and education, stewardship and sustainable visitation, and economic growth and opportunity through outdoor recreation. For more information, visit recreation.utah.gov.