Posted on January 6, 2011

NatureBridge Receives $4 Million From Google

San Francisco-based NatureBridge, an education partner of the National Park Service, has announced a three-year, $4 million grant from the Google Charitable Giving Fund at the Tides Foundation to expand its environmental education program.

The grant will enable NatureBridge to add ten thousand K-12 students to its residential programs, develop community-based environmental education training programs, deliver hands-on training to hundreds of K-12 teachers, and find new ways to leverage technology for students and teachers in the field and at home. The organization also will use the funding to engage teachers and students with new classroom-based environmental science and stewardship programs, and to expand its environmental education programs beyond the West Coast. To that end and with support from Google, NatureBridge will take its national-parks-based programs to Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia.

"We know we must do more to create a world where our youth feel a personal and lifelong connection to nature, and where they are inspired to take action to care for the earth," said NatureBridge president and CEO Susan Smartt. "Thanks to Google's generosity, we will reach more underserved youth, increase the quality and relevance of our programs, and develop new and innovative ways to better serve students and support teachers."