Alaska organizations can once again seek support to create quality experiences and expand access to youth camps around the state. The Camps Initiative is the result of a partnership between Rasmuson Foundation and the Alaska Community Foundation to provide well-staffed, safe environments for Alaska’s youth to enjoy. The project also is meant to offset the pandemic’s distressing effects on youth programs in the past two years. Nonprofits, tribal groups, faith-based organizations, and local governments are all eligible for awards.
This year’s effort is build on the success of the 2021 partnership, which included the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and the Municipality of Anchorage. When first announced, the Camps Initiative received a flood of requests from nonprofit organizations, tribes, cities, and faith-based organizations. The Alaska Community Foundation created a collaborative fund to broaden the partnership and ultimately awarded 85 grants topping $1.5 million in 2021.
In discussing the grant’s impact in 2021, Kenai’s Challenger Learning Center CEO Marnie A. Olcott said:
“COVID-19 has had a huge impact on our community, both in the social and emotional needs of our youth and in economic terms for our families. Challenger Learning Center used our Camps Initiative Grant funds in a variety of ways to help continue our mission of inspiring students through science, technology, engineering, and math. In addition, these funds allowed us to offer scholarships, making our camps available to every child who wanted to attend, regardless of financial situation.”
The deadline to apply is March 24. This year, organizations can apply for up to $15,000 per camp location, with a potential total of $45,000. To learn more about the Camps Initiative and apply, go to https://alaskacf.org/funds/camps-initiative/.