2026-27 applicant competition open as of October 25, 2026; application deadline October 30, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time.
Idaho — Be Outside Idaho 2026–27 Youth Outdoor Education Reimbursement Grants (Up to $2,500)
Idaho Recreation and Tourism Initiative offers 2026–27 Be Outside Idaho reimbursement grants of up to $2,500 for qualified Idaho schools, government entities and nonprofit/eligible sponsored organizations connecting children with outdoor recreation and natural-resource education. Email applications by October 30, 2026 at 5 p.m. Mountain Time.
FundingUp to $2,500 per approved applicant project, reimbursed after completed project and approved grant report including itemized invoices and photos by June 4, 2027. No overall funder pool substituted. Applicant must cover costs before reimbursement; application discusses matching dollars but does not state a universal required matching percentage.
DeadlineOctober 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time (official 2026 Idaho Parks & Recreation announcement); applications submitted by email to IDRecreationTourism@gmail.com.
Last verified2026-10-25
Required next actionDownload the current Be Outside Idaho 2026-27 seven-page application from https://www.beoutsideidaho.com/. Confirm Idaho school, government, eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or volunteer group with qualifying tax-exempt fiscal sponsor. Prepare project and outdoor-education activities, youth impact, matching/other funds explanation, itemized project budget, signed dated sponsor support letter and W-9. Email complete application by October 30, 2026 5 p.m. MT. If funded, finish activities and send final invoices, photos and report by June 4, 2027.
Broad Eligibility
Idaho schools, government agencies and eligible nonprofit organizations, plus volunteer organizations applying with tax-exempt fiscal sponsorship, conducting projects to connect Idaho children with outdoor recreation, nature and natural-resource education. Only one applicant per partnership; nonprofit/fiscal sponsors need current IRS Form 990. Must provide a signed support letter, detailed project/budget, W-9 and completion report.
Atlas Analysis
Reviewed Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation official 2026-27 Be Outside Idaho September 29 announcement, official Be Outside Idaho open-cycle page, and the controlling seven-page 2026-27 application PDF on October 25, 2026. Verified applicant maximum $2,500, Oct 30 5pm MT deadline, reimbursement-only award after completion, June 4 2027 reporting, all listed exclusions, sponsor letter, fiscal sponsorship and nonprofit IRS Form 990 requirements, W-9 and budget, youth outdoor education eligibility and post-award recognition/photo safeguards. No universal match percentage stated. This is applicant financial assistance rather than procurement.
Be Outside Idaho — 2026–27 Outdoor Education Project Grants
The Idaho Recreation and Tourism Initiative (IRTI), through Be Outside Idaho, offers applicant-facing reimbursement grants of up to $2,500 for qualifying Idaho schools, governmental entities, and nonprofit organizations leading projects that connect Idaho children with nature, recreation, outdoor learning, and natural-resource education. This is financial assistance to an applicant program, not state purchasing or a vendor contract.
Funding conditions and allowable uses
The maximum award is $2,500 per approved applicant project. Payment occurs only after project completion and delivery of an accepted final grant report with photographs and supporting itemized invoices by June 4, 2027. The official application excludes transportation, entrance fees, food, school tracks and gym rentals, permanent staff salaries, and T-shirts or promotional materials. Short-term specialized roles such as interns and trained Master Naturalists may qualify when essential to research, education or fieldwork. The application requests other funding and matching-dollar information but does not establish a fixed universal cost-share percentage.
Eligibility and application documents
Applicants include qualifying Idaho schools, government agencies and nonprofits conducting youth outdoor projects. Volunteer organizations require a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor; an application involving multiple partners may name only one applicant. The current seven-page form requires organization and tax identification, mission and brief project summary, youth beneficiaries, location, timeline, collaborators, requested amount and itemized budget. Applicants must include a signed, dated letter of support, budget form and W-9. Nonprofits and fiscal sponsors must have current IRS Form 990 filings.
Application deadline
October 30, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Download the official 2026–27 application and email completed materials to the listed IRTI program contact. The project must include appropriate public acknowledgement of Be Outside Idaho. Public use of identifiable child photographs requires parental/guardian photo releases. Award notification is scheduled for November 16, 2026; completed reimbursement reports must arrive by June 4, 2027.
Official 2026 grant announcement: https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/pressrelease/the-2026-2027-be-outside-idaho-grant-cycle-is-now-open/
Current 2026–27 seven-page application: https://www.beoutsideidaho.com/_files/ugd/9c468f_c73739760fc5409eb3f3fc76936e5713.pdf
Research verified: October 25, 2026.
Source verificationOfficial government source · parksandrecreation.idaho.govAtlas last verified this record 2026-10-25. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
