Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to establish the "Nature as We Age" grant program. This program aims to promote outdoor education and recreation opportunities specifically for older adults in the state of Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• Program Establishment: The bill mandates the Commissioner of Natural Resources to create and manage a grant program that funds outdoor education and recreation activities tailored to older adults.
• Eligibility for Grants: Grants can be awarded to both public entities and private non-profit organizations.
• Priorities for Grant Allocation:
  1. Providing older adults with direct experiences of nature.
  2. Maximizing participant numbers for the activities.
  3. Catering to older adults with restricted access to natural-resource-based activities.
  4. Utilizing public parks and natural resource venues along with their personnel.
  5. Preference will be given to those committing matching funds or in-kind resources.

Significant Changes

The bill proposes a new law in the Minnesota Statutes, specifically in chapter 84, which focuses on natural resources. This new law introduces an initiative targeted at increasing outdoor activity engagement among older adults, a demographic that may currently lack tailored opportunities for participating in such activities. There is an appropriation of funds from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to support the implementation of this program.

Relevant Terms

• Natural resources
• Outdoor education
• Recreation opportunities
• Older adults
• Grant program
• Public entities
• Nonprofit organizations
• Public parks