Wildlife Wednesdays: Disney Helps 60,000 Students Explore America’s National Parks

This has been an amazing week! It started at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where I participated with park guests in an inspiring ceremony in honor of the park’s 15th anniversary and a “Party for the Planet” in celebration of Earth Day. Yesterday, I was back at Disney’s Animal Kingdom recognizing Walt Disney World Resort cast members from several of our parks and resorts who share information with our guests about the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF).

Today, I am thrilled to announce that, in celebration of Earth Month and National Park Week, the DWCF is granting $500,000 to the National Park Foundation to help connect kids to nature through America’s national parks. This grant will go to the National Park Foundation’s “Ticket to Ride” program, which helps students explore the outdoors by providing transportation to national parks around the country.

Now in its second year and with continued support from the DWCF and Disney Friends for Change, “Ticket to Ride” provides financial resources for transportation, in-park educational programming, and meals that make national park field trips possible for schools across the country. The grant from Disney will help more than 60,000 students experience location-based learning in their local national parks this year. For many students, the Ticket to Ride field trip will be their first visit to a national park.

In addition to the grant, Disney Friends for Change – a program that inspires kids and families to make a positive impact by helping people and the planet – developed a public service announcement (PSA) that will air on Disney Channel and Disney Online and this great Earth Month video.

 
Disney Friends for Change also is sharing an online action kit that helps families plan a park visit in four easy steps and provides ideas on park activities ranging from hikes to wildlife exploration.

Caring about nature begins with spending time in nature, and we’re proud to give kids a chance to spend time outdoors in our beautiful national parks.

Did you know?

The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund is funded by Disney and contributions by Disney guests. Guests help support the fund in a variety of ways, from adding a dollar or more to their purchases of food and gifts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and select resorts, to participating in special animal experiences on Disney Cruise Line and at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge; The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot; and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai’i, to purchasing reusable shopping bags and other items at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts.