Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has received an Open OutDoors for Kids grant from the National Park Foundation to expand education programs throughout the National Heritage Corridor. The grant will enable Erie Canalway to engage 1,500 students from lower-income schools in free field trips to the Erie Canal Museum (Syracuse), Fort Stanwix National Monument (Rome), Saratoga National Historical Park (Stillwater), and Women’s Rights National Historical Park (Seneca Falls) during the 2023-24 school year.
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor will also work with the Erie Canal Museum to develop a series of interdisciplinary lessons for elementary and middle school students. The lessons will explore canal connections to social studies, science, math, art, and other subjects.
“Since 2012, more than 55,000 students from 250 schools have participated in education programs within the Erie Canalway supported by the National Park Foundation. These new initiatives will continue the tradition of connecting students to museums and national parks through onsite school field trips and expanded virtual learning opportunities,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
The National Park Foundation’s Open OutDoors for Kids program builds on a child’s innate wonder and curiosity about the natural world, immersing students in national parks through field trips, classroom engagements, and educational activities.
The newly developed lessons and field trip signups will be available online at the Erie Canal Learning Hub, a joint initiative of Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and New York State Canal Corporation.
