Manatee Community Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast in support of its Next Gen Conservation Program. The grant was made possible through the Bishop-Parker Foundations Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation and will further the Conservation Foundation’s commitment to youth education through discovery, nature-based activities, citizen-science, and memorable experiences in the great outdoors.

Next Gen Conservation is Conservation Foundation’s umbrella program, comprised of Youth in Nature and Nature Explorers. Youth in Nature focuses on underserved middle and high school youth from Manatee, DeSoto, and Sarasota counties. Nature Explorers is Conservation Foundation’s free, public youth education program for children in grades K-5. This program uses "citizen science" techniques to show kids how they can make a difference in others’ lives as well as help the earth.