Colorado’s Outdoor Equity Grant Program—established in 2021 and administered by Colorado Parks & Wildlife—invests in organizations that are increasing access to the outdoors for historically underserved youth and families. The program provides meaningful educational outdoor experiences to diverse youth including young people from low-income families, rural youth, LGBTQ+ youth, Native American youth and youth with disabilities.
Since the program began, Colorado Parks & Wildlife has allocated about $5.3 million to 92 grantees—including Tribes, nonprofits, school districts and businesses. The program has served 38,000 participants in 41 counties, but funding still falls short of demand and transformative outdoor experiences remain beyond reach for thousands of Coloradans.