Open Outdoors for Kids — OOK Grants

Glacier National Park and Montana Environmental Education Association (MEEA) are partnered together to provide students from across Montana the opportunity to engage with their public lands. The OOK Grants are administered by Glacier National Park Service, with MEEA as the non-profit partner, providing assistance with determining awards and managing funds provided by the National Park Foundation.

For field trips between now and June 2025, educators, youth group leaders, and others bringing Montana students to public lands can be awarded up to $300 to help cover costs like buses.


Every Kid Outdoors

Fourth graders can download a free pass for their family to see America’s public lands.

The program gives every 4th grade student and their families across the country a chance to visit a park, preserve or other public lands and waters.

Every Kid Outdoors targets 4th graders because we know that children who interact with nature and natural areas before age 11 are more likely to have positive attitudes toward nature and the environment as adults.

    • Fourth grade is also when many schools are teaching local, state, and national history.
    • Additionally, we already have targeted programs for 4th graders in many of our parks, and now we want to extend them for ALL 4th graders.
    • Some of these students will come as part of organized field trips, and others will come with their families and friends and will use a printable pass to get free park access for a year.

Participating agencies in Every Kid Outdoors include the National Park Service, Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.


Teacher's Guide

A Teacher’s Guide to Outdoor Education Sites and Programs in the Flathead Region

Explore the educational sites and programs available in the Flathead Region for fun and effective field trips in this eBooklet.

Created with teachers in mind, the eBooklet describes the sites and associated educational programs; provides the logistical details for planning the trips; lists the Montana Curriculum Content Standards; and links to additional resources for creating lesson plans.


Flathead Watershed Sourcebook, 2nd Edition

This website is a companion to the book of the same title, which together serve as a primer to the Flathead Watershed. Viewed from a bioregional perspective, the project discusses the many people and systems that make up the Flathead Watershed—one of the most biologically intact ecosystems in North America. The Flathead Watershed Sourcebook weds science and art, nature and human nature into an appealing and informative resource for citizens and educators. The menus of this site follow the chapters of the book, making the information widely accessible.  Long-time residents, new community members and visitors will find details of the geography, cultures, natural history and economics of the Flathead Watershed. The full details of the project, its funders, author, and contributors are available when you visit the website.


Natural Inquirer

Free Science education materials for PreK -12 students!

The Natural Inquirer program produces a variety of science education materials for PreK through grade 12. Natural Inquirer products are produced by the USDA Forest Service, FIND Outdoors, and other cooperators and partners.


Fire Science and Forestry Scholarships and Financial Aid Resource Guide 

FireScience.org began in 2012 to provide quality data and information for students pursuing a career in fire science. They provide tools and resources to help students and professionals make well-informed decisions about their education and career training.

Information includes:

  • Updated scholarships information and financial aid options                                              
    Fire&ForestryScholarships
  • Where to find grants and loans that pertain to this field
  • A list of resources to assist students pursing a degree in fire education

Do you have a great resource for educators in the Flathead? Then send us a message so we can add it here.