More than 170,000 students have participated since 2007 

SANTA FE — New Mexico State Parks has increased funding for its Kids in Parks transportation grant program after school requests surpassed available funds for the 2025–2026 school year. 

The program reimburses teachers for transportation costs to bring students to state parks for curriculum-based outdoor learning. For the current 2025-2026 school year, total funding increased to $34,199 – a roughly 128% increase over the program's   original $15,00 allocation, with State Parks providing an additional $19,199. 

"The Kids in Parks program ensures that transportation costs don't stand in the way of students experiencing outdoor learning," said Toby Velásquez, state parks division director. "Our state park system offers a vast array of environmental and cultural learning opportunities that help students build lasting connections to New Mexico's natural and cultural resources." 

Since 2007, more than 170,000 students have participated in Kids in Parks, supported in part by voluntary contributions made through the New Mexico Personal Income Tax return. Teacher response to the program has been unanimous: 100 percent of survey respondents said they would participate in another Kids in Parks field trip and would recommend the experience to a colleague. The next grant application period is expected to open in August or September of this year. Educators can find details at: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/spd/kids-n-parks  

 "In a world increasingly threatened by climate change, environmental education students are gaining an appreciation for nature, becoming stewards of the future, and learning a sense of environmental responsibility," said Paul Mauermann, director at Sandia Mountain Natural History Center. 

How to support the program: 

New Mexicans can contribute through Line 40 of the PIT‑1 tax return or by mailing donations directly to: 

 EMNRD – New Mexico State Parks Division 

1220 South St. Francis Drive 

Santa Fe, NM 87505 

More information on voluntary contributions and PIT‑D forms is available through the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department.