The Maryland Department of Natural Resources awarded $65,000 in Outdoor Equity Mini Grants to 11 community projects on Oct. 31, 2025, doubling the program’s funding from its 2024 pilot to expand access to camping, mountain biking, outdoor education and nature-based wellness for historically underserved groups. Secretary Josh Kurtz announced the recipients during the second annual Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit, held Oct. 28-30 at the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Hotel in Baltimore.
“This work really is about ensuring every Marylander has the opportunity to get outside and to enjoy our incredible natural resources,” Kurtz said.
The grants target social, geographic, cultural, physical and economic barriers that limit participation in outdoor activities. Funded through the Great Maryland Outdoors Act of 2022, the initiative supports community-led efforts to introduce diverse populations to Maryland’s parks and natural areas. In 2024, the program distributed $27,000 to four organizations statewide.
Among the recipients, Calvert County Parks and Recreation received $7,500 to extend its Youth Mentor Program with a five-week summer mini-session in 2026 for middle school students ages 10 to 14. The expansion builds on the program’s existing 10-week spring and fall sessions, which meet weekly for two hours at the Northeast Community Center in Lusby and Southern Community Center in Lusby, focusing on fellowship, life skills, good citizenship and health through interactive activities.
The new summer component addresses out-of-school time risks by offering weekly field trips that emphasize physical activity, environmental stewardship, leadership and peer interactions. Core areas include health and wellness, environmental education, equity and access, and youth development. Transportation assistance ensures participants from rural or low-income households in Calvert County can join, regardless of location. Launched in fall 2024 with a National Recreation and Parks Association grant — one of 29 awarded nationwide — the program has engaged dozens of youth, fostering connections to local sites like Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary, a 300-acre preserve with boardwalk trails through ancient bald cypress trees.
Calvert’s project aligns with broader efforts to counter barriers in Southern Maryland, where geographic isolation and limited public transit hinder access to recreation. The county’s 1,000 miles of shoreline and parks like Flag Ponds Nature Park draw visitors for kayaking and birdwatching, but a 2022 county survey identified transportation and cost as top challenges for 32 percent of respondents seeking more outdoor options. Rural areas between Prince Frederick and Solomons often lack direct bus routes to trailheads, exacerbating inequities for families without vehicles.
Other grants highlight the program’s reach across Maryland. Reflection House in Baltimore secured $7,500 to partner with Women’s+ Mountain Biking, introducing residents — women recovering from substance use disorders — to trail riding for physical health and emotional support. R.I.S.E. Hiking Collaborative received $7,500 for an Outdoor Leadership Program targeting Black women and girls in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia region, including a gear lending library and S.T.E.A.M.-focused youth hikes on topics like ornithology and trail building. Lockbriar Farms on the Eastern Shore earned $5,500 for an Outdoor Wellness Project, featuring a free disc golf course, sensory trails and yoga sessions for underserved youth and families in Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Cecil counties.
Additional awards went to the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park ($5,000) for family kayaking events; YMCA of Frederick County ($5,000) for camping workshops; Butler Montessori Country School ($6,940) for ASL-inclusive horseback riding for Deaf children; Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School ($5,000) for team-building expeditions serving 50 Baltimore-area students; Western Maryland Climbing Coalition ($5,000) for free clinics in Cumberland; Maryland Interscholastic Cycling League ($4,650) for statewide mountain biking introductions; and Tree Trekkers ($5,000) for subsidized treetop adventures in Frederick County.