Ride to the Wild Fund

The Ride to the Wild Fund is a targeted educational grant initiative administered by the Humboldt Area Foundation and Wild Rivers Community Foundation. Established through the generosity of Bill and Melissa Zielinski, the fund is designed to support K-12 teachers in Humboldt County, California, by covering the transportation costs associated with taking students on nature-based field trips. The foundation of the fund lies in the Zielinskis’ belief that early exposure to the outdoors can cultivate environmental awareness and foster a lifelong appreciation for preserving natural spaces. This program specifically funds transportation-related expenses, including the cost of a bus and driver for a single field outing to a local natural area. While the grants are limited in scope to typically cover only transportation costs, the intent is to make outdoor education accessible to all Humboldt County K-12 schools, regardless of financial standing. Teachers are encouraged to organize field trips that enrich students’ understanding of the environment and align with educational objectives that increase ecological literacy. Eligible applicants include public schools and public benefit organizations, and the application process accommodates entities working with a qualified fiscal sponsor. Teachers or school administrators applying must outline the educational value of their proposed trip, including destination details, expected student activities, learning goals, and projected outcomes. The application also requests demographic information about the student population served, a breakdown of the overall project budget, and confirmation of any other funding secured. Optional sections allow applicants to provide further community engagement context and additional budget details. The grant application is accessible through the Humboldt Area Foundation and Wild Rivers Community Foundation’s centralized Grants Portal. Teachers or representatives must complete an online form, providing fiscal sponsorship information if applicable, contact details, geographic reach, and budget documentation. There is also an option to allow the application to be shared with other potential funders. Notably, the process is designed to be user-friendly and inclusive of educators with limited grant writing experience. Submissions for the 2025–2026 cycle are being accepted, though no specific opening or closing dates were provided in the source. The grant appears to be offered annually, based on the naming convention, suggesting a recurring opportunity. There is no requirement for cost-sharing or matching funds, and no pre-application steps are required prior to submission. Applications are reviewed directly by the foundation, and all communication regarding grant decisions is routed through the Grants Team. For technical support, applicants are directed to visit the grants portal at hafoundation.org/grants or to email [email protected]. All grant checks are mailed to the fiscal sponsor if one is involved. Overall, the Ride to the Wild Fund represents a focused effort to promote experiential learning and environmental stewardship among the youth of Humboldt County by removing logistical and financial barriers to outdoor education.