Image: Karina Younk and BC Marine Trails
The fourth and largest-ever intake of the Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC is officially open for applications. Managed by the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC), this year's cycle will distribute $400,000 to about 50 community projects across the province.
Established by the provincial government in 2023 with a $10-million endowment, the Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC is the only province-wide grant program dedicated specifically to community-based, outdoor recreation projects. Administered by ORCBC, the Fund is open to registered charities, non-profit organizations, and Indigenous governments, and supports projects that improve outdoor recreation opportunities, encourage stewardship, and make the outdoors more accessible.
“Every year, we're amazed by the projects that come forward and how much local organizations accomplish with relatively small grants,” says Tomke Augustin, Grant Program Manager for the ORCBC. “We're excited to have more funding available this year and to support even more communities in making outdoor recreation better and more accessible.”
In its first three cycles, the Fund supported 109 projects with more than $840,000.
“Since its inception, the fund has made a tangible impact across British Columbia”, says ORCBC Board Chair Eric Vanderkruk.
Past projects have enhanced 94 different communities, improving 410 kilometers of trails, planting over 1,000 trees, and cleaning up 2,589 kilograms of trash. These initiatives have also leveraged more than 25,000 hours of volunteer work and nearly $1 million in related contributions.
To ensure fairness, applications are initially reviewed for eligibility and scored based on set criteria by a team of experienced outdoor recreation volunteers. The ranked projects are then reviewed by the Outdoor Recreation Fund Committee, which makes recommendations to the ORCBC board for their final funding decision.
“It never ceases to amaze me how our dedicated non-profit, volunteer-driven, and recreation-focused organizations can stretch and multiply grant funding,” says Vanderkruk. “This showcases the immense need for the Outdoor Recreation Fund and the need to see it grow, so that we can fund more and larger projects in the future.”