Venerable Adventure Travel Company, O.A.R.S., Wants to Get Kids Off Couch and Into National Parks

Announces Two-Year Partnership with the National Park Foundation 

Veteran river outfitter and adventure travel company, O.A.R.S., has introduced a new program to help open up the great outdoors for kids around the country. Starting this year, O.A.R.S. will donate one percent of company sales to the National Park Foundation—the official charity of America’s national parks—for trips operated in Arches & Canyonlands National Parks, Crater Lake National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and for the company’s new hiking trips in Grand Canyon National Park.

“We strongly support the mission of the National Park Service to ‘preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations,’” said George Wendt, O.A.R.S. President and Founder. “By partnering with the National Park Foundation, our goal is to play a role in making park experiences possible for young people and to help them develop a passion for the outdoors.”

O.A.R.S. has committed a minimum of $50,000 through end 2016 to support the National Park Foundation’s mission to protect America’s treasured places, connect all people with parks, and inspire the next generation of park stewards.

Additionally, O.A.R.S. has committed to an in-kind donation of $95,000 in national park trips to be used in support of National Park Foundation programs, like Open OutDoors for Kids, to help get underserved youth into parks.

Susan Newton, senior vice president of grants and programs for the National Park Foundation added: “Our national parks provide transformative, life-changing experiences that everyone deserves to have. As we move into the second century of the National Park Service and look to connect all people to America’s treasured places through our Find Your Park movement, we are grateful for O.A.R.S.’ shared commitment to engaging the next generation of park stewards.”