OSPREY, FL (August 16, 2022) Gulf Coast Community Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast in support of their Next Gen Conservation Program. The grant was made possible through the Katherine Naismith Witten Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation and will further Conservation Foundation’s commitment to youth education through discovery, nature-based activities, citizen science, and memorable experiences in the great outdoors.
“Our Next Gen programming gives kids wild places to explore and learn about the wonders of our natural world,” says Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. “These experiences help shape their views on wildlife and habitats, instill a love for nature, and inspire their desire to protect the environment. We are incredibly grateful to Gulf Coast Community Foundation for their investment in our work and the youth we serve.”
Next Gen Conservation is Conservation Foundation’s umbrella program comprised of Youth in Nature and Nature Explorers. Youth in Nature focuses on underserved middle and high school youth from Manatee, DeSoto, and Sarasota counties. Anchored by a broad collaboration with numerous youth-serving organizations, Youth in Nature provides hundreds of kids with WOW! moments in nature each year.
Nature Explorers is Conservation Foundation’s free and open-to-the-public youth education program for children grades K-5. This program uses ‘citizen science’ techniques to show kids how even they can make a difference in others’ lives as well as help the earth.
Different from typical summer camp programs, Next Gen programming get kids outside year-round, immersing them in nature and providing a host of benefits for their overall well-being. Program activities and outings are facilitated by Conservation Foundation’s Environmental Programs Manager, Sabrina Cummings, and would not be possible without the generous support of the community.
About Conservation Foundation
Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast protects land and water in Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature. Working with landowners, businesses, and government, Conservation Foundation saves land forever, protecting those special places that make this region extraordinary. A nationally accredited land trust, Conservation Foundation purchases natural areas, holds voluntary land protection agreements, and educates for responsible land and water stewardship in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties. Learn more and join in their mission at conservationfoundation.com.
About Gulf Coast Community Foundation
For more than 25 years, together with our donors, Gulf Coast Community Foundation has transformed our region through bold and proactive philanthropy. Gulf Coast is a public charity that was created in 1995 through the sale of the Venice Hospital. Since then, we have become the philanthropic home of over 950 families, individuals, businesses, and organizations that have established charitable funds here. Together, we have invested over $430 million in grants in the areas of health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment. Learn more at GulfCoastCF.org.