Grant County youth will have more opportunities to explore, learn, and connect in the outdoors thanks to nearly $100,000 in Outdoor Equity Fund grants from the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division.
Three Grant County organizations, Gila Resources Information Project, Earth Ways Inc., and The Bike Works, were among 54 organizations statewide selected for the first round of Fiscal Year 2027 Outdoor Equity Fund grants. Together, the three programs received $97,500 to provide local young people with outdoor education, recreation, skills and experiences that connect them with the Gila region.
The New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division announced $2.2 million in total funding this cycle, an investment that will connect more than 17,000 youth to outdoor programs that support health and wellness, environmental education and workforce readiness.
For the Silver City Watershed Keepers (SCWK) program of Gila Resources Information Project (GRIP), a $20,000 award will support free, experiential outdoor education for Grant County 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. The funding supports Silver City Watershed Keepers' Nature Discovery Summer Camp, a program designed to help local youth develop confidence, curiosity and a lasting connection to the natural world.
"Outdoor access is crucial to help young people connect the lessons they learn in school and at home to our land and community," said Alesia Hallmark, Program Coordinator for the Silver City Watershed Keepers. "Nature Discovery Summer Camp gets kids outside, encourages them to play and ask questions, and builds their confidence in the outdoors, all while engaging them in lessons about wildlife and watershed ecology."
Nature Discovery Summer Camp provides rising 4th-6th graders with hands-on experiences in local ecosystems, watersheds and cultural sites. During the 2026 camp, students explored topics including wildlife, nature journaling, environmental science, water, soil and air quality, outdoor safety and Leave No Trace principles. Field trips to the Gila River and Mimbres Culture Heritage Site provide students with a personal connection to lessons about local ecology, history, and culture. Students also use journaling and art to document and interpret their observations.
The camp is intentionally designed to reduce common barriers to participation. Programming is free, with transportation, lunches and snacks provided, and camp sessions are offered in both Silver City and Bayard.
"Programs like this are a huge help to parents during the summer and it means so much when the children have opportunities to learn outside with their peers, especially when it's near water! " said Elysha Montoya, parent of a 2026 camper.
SCWK's Nature Discovery Summer Camp is one of three Grant County projects receiving Outdoor Equity Fund support during the first round of this funding cycle.
Earth Ways Inc. received $40,000 for its Walkabout program, which provides monthly full-day outdoor adventures and a summer day camp for Grant County youth. The program combines nature exploration, traditional skills, storytelling and hands-on activities in the Gila region.
The Bike Works received $37,500 to support bicycle education, Earn-A-Bike repair workshops, guided rides and outdoor adventures for Grant County youth. The program helps young people build practical bicycle skills, confidence and access to bicycles while creating opportunities for outdoor recreation and exploration.
Together, these programs offer Grant County young people more ways to experience the outdoors, from exploring rivers and forests, to learning traditional outdoor skills, to repairing and riding bicycles.
New Mexico's Outdoor Recreation Division established the Outdoor Equity Fund to reduce barriers that prevent young people, particularly those in rural and underserved communities, from experiencing the physical, social and educational benefits of the outdoors. Since the program was established in 2019, the Outdoor Recreation Division reports that it has awarded nearly $12.8 million in grants and connected more than 145,000 youth with outdoor education experiences.
For Grant County, the latest awards represent an opportunity to build on a strong network of local organizations helping young people develop relationships with the region's rivers, forests, trails, public lands and communities. "Grant County is an incredible natural classroom," said Hallmark.
Silver City Watershed Keepers is a program of the Gila Resources Information Project, a nonprofit organization working to protect and restore the natural resources of southwest New Mexico while promoting healthy communities.
