Great Parks has been able to continue reliable nature education programming through 2020–2021 thanks to a generous donation from the John A Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Charitable Trust, in the amount of $25,000.

The funding has helped cover all or a majority of the costs to provide curriculum-based education to more than 4,500 children who may have not had the opportunity otherwise. It has allowed Great Parks Interpreters to provided on-going education through the pandemic, connecting students to nature, cultural history and the environment, through virtual learning.

“This grant provides Great Parks the much needed boost for our Interpreters to continue quality educational options through a very unstable time for students and teachers,” says Great Parks CEO Todd Palmeter. “The costs covered by the grant allowed organizations to receive exceptional programming at little to no cost, helping teachers continue a curriculum-based school schedule through virtual learning.”

Students at over 20 Cincinnati Public Schools, as well as Northwest, Forest Hills, Princeton and Indian Hill School Districts, have been able to engage with interactive presentations, taking them to the outdoors while learning from home. Over 200 programs have been offered through the school year, providing a vital service to schools that were making major adjustments to their education processes during the pandemic. The funding provided by the John A Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Charitable Trust will also help Great Parks continue educational opportunities through this summer with virtual and in-person programming.