Free transportation for schools that participate in Earth, Sea, Sky program

HAWAII NATIONAL PARK, Hawaiʻi – Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park received a wonderful start to the new year with a $50,000 grant from The National Park Foundation that provides eligible schools with free transporation and admission to the national park, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center. To be eligible, schools must participate in the Earth, Sea, Sky field trips developed in partnership by the three East Hawaiʻi learning destinations. Through field trips with each organization, students learn how interdependent life is on the island of Hawaiʻi, as well as how to mālama ʻāina, care for the world around us. Students are also exposed to a diverse range of scientific research happening on island and the different careers available. The Earth, Sea, Sky program debuted in March 2022 at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (earth), Mokupāpapa Discovery Center (sea) and ʻImiloa Astronomy Center (sky). In that first spring, 11 Hawaiʻi schools participated. The program originally targeted sixth through tenth graders, but the new National Park Foundation Open Outdoors for Kids grant expands the opportunity to also include fourth graders. For more information on the Earth, Sea, Sky program and to schedule a fee-free field trip and transportation, email Erin Deskin at havo_education@nps.gov. More educational classroom resources are available at all three partners’ websites: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/education/curriculummaterials.htm