WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Office of Outdoor Recreation are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership to establish the first Maryland Outdoor Equity Grant Fund and the program’s pilot round of grants. This initiative marks a significant step towards fostering inclusivity and expanding access to outdoor recreation across the state.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Maryland DNR to launch this important initiative and excited to watch the grantees’ efforts to help more people get access to the outdoors and flourish,” said Ambreen Tariq, Senior Program Director at Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and Together Outdoors Coalition Lead. “This fund will not only support underrepresented communities in accessing and enjoying the outdoors but also create lasting connections to nature and foster stewardship among these groups.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable to establish the Maryland Outdoor Equity Grant Fund. The Maryland DNR hopes to create more opportunities in the future and is eager to learn from and hear from these community groups. Those interested in future funding opportunities are encouraged to stay connected and provide proof of requests to ensure continuous support and engagement,” said Sandi Olek, the Director of the Maryland Office of Outdoor Recreation.
Through a strategic blend of public and private resources, this partnership will leverage outdoor business resources to support these new opportunities, ensuring that outdoor recreation is accessible to a broader range of communities. The fund emphasizes the creation of new stewardship opportunities, fostering connections to nature, and enhancing the overall outdoor experience.
In this pilot round, the Maryland Outdoor Equity Grant Fund focuses on increasing the capacity of underrepresented and underserved small community groups. The grantees and their projects listed below aim to activate outdoor spaces, provide new opportunities, and support recreational activities that are meaningful to these special groups.
Funded Projects Information:
Defensores de la Cuenca: We are a Latino-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects Latin@s and Spanish-speakers to nature through shared experiences and opportunities to preserve and defend the Chesapeake Bay watershed for a healthier mind, body, and soul. We are building a network of Latin@/e leaders who are taking action to support Madre Tierra, our Mother Earth. We create family-friendly events that are welcoming and inviting to ensure the Latin@/e participants have fun and make positive connections to nature. We share information about the many ways the environment impacts us and how we impact the environment.
How They’re Spending It: Funding will contribute to a gear bank that increases access to outdoor recreation activities by Latine communities who are underrepresented in that field.
Live Water Foundation (LWF): Our Mission is to Inspire and Empower the people and organizations we work with by facilitating watersports programs that improve the health, wellness, and environment of our communities. Every action we make is with the intention of fostering a community centered around a commitment to environmental stewardship, equitable access to water activity for youth in Annapolis, and serving our military veterans who have so bravely served for us. We “paddle with a purpose” by infusing our favorite activity with our core values and empowering those we work with to do the same.
How They’re Spending It: Funding will contribute to connections between veterans and paddleboarding and kayaking through the purchase of materials. This activity will lay the foundation for vast community connections, increase knowledge around this recreational activity and provide learning opportunities around stewardship and sustainability.
Mentoring Our Rising Entrepreneurs (MORE): We are a nonprofit organization based in Baltimore, Maryland. We are a homeschool co-op, for ages 7 – 17, that will supplement the parent’s primary teaching by offering a safe, secure place where M.O.R.E students can receive academic support and a strong emphasis on entrepreneurial mentoring and project-based services. M.O.R.E acknowledges that it’s never too early to teach children, in underserved and impoverished communities, the importance of financial literacy and economic equality. We also recognize the importance of parents and/or guardians in a child’s education and seek to partner with families in establishing a better future for youth through this academic support and mentoring services.
How They’re Spending It: Funding will contribute to 50–75 kids from Baltimore City and other impoverished neighborhoods the education and experience they need to set out on excursions, explore new things, and enjoy nature through the purchasing of camping materials.
Young Successful Leaders (YSL): Young Successful Leaders Inc merged with the Cottda Foundation which was a well-established 501c3 since 2005. The new name of our organization is now Young Successful Leaders Inc. established in 2020. We were created to impact the lives of youth and change the community. We notice the economic disparity in developing entrepreneurs and leaders because of the lack of locally owned businesses and the lack of local leadership in various communities. We develop youth ages 10-18 and young adults 18-25 into leaders and entrepreneurs, financial literacy, workforce development members into youth and young adults who flourish and lead their families, peers, friends, and communities–today and into the future.
How They’re Spending It: Funding will contribute to community garden initiatives to increase overall cleanliness and aesthetics, be a space for shared use and enjoyment, promote local agriculture and food self-sufficiency, and foster community engagement and a sense of ownership among residents.
For more information, please visit the Maryland DNR Office of Outdoor Recreation and the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable websites.