The non-profit Friends of Roxborough State Park have created the Barbara Fritts Scholarship Fund to pay for transporting economically disadvantaged school children, pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, to the park for a special program by a park volunteer naturalist. Fritts was a Roxborough State Park Volunteer Naturalist from 2003-2011. She was devoted to teaching children about nature and getting kids involved in outdoor education.

She was disheartened by the number of school children who could not experience Roxborough’s educational activities and beauty because of transportation costs. The fund was created in her memory to allow children to have a meaningful outdoor experience at Roxborough State Park. For some, the visit to Roxborough may be their first experience in “nature’s classroom.”

The 10 scholarships available for the 2012-2013 school year will reimburse schools for bus transportation costs – the driver and the fuel – for school children to come to Roxborough for a naturalist guided program, set to state curriculum standards. Each program is limited to a 60 student maximum. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

However, the funds can’t be used for admission to the park, which is $7 for a school bus regardless of the number of passengers. The schools will be responsible for making their own transportation arrangements, paying for the bus and submitting the expenses for reimbursement to the scholarship fund.

“We know that there are schools that can’t afford to bring students to Roxborough and that’s why we raised $2,000 this year to help give youngsters the chance to enjoy the park, learn about nature and experience outdoor exercise in a beautiful setting,” said Del Kelley, president of the Friends of Roxborough.

Additional Barbara Fritts Scholarship Fund information:

To be eligible for the reimbursement, the school must have at least 75 percent of their students qualified for the free and reduced lunch program through the National School Lunch Program.

• There are five scholarships awarded in the fall and five for the spring.
• The applications, which will be accepted after Feb. 1, 2012, are available online at Barbara Fritts Scholarship Fund application and are valid for the 2012-2013 school years.
• Only complete forms will be accepted.
• Schools must have a confirmed reservation to visit Roxborough State Park for a guided school program to be considered for the scholarship.
• Applicants will be notified within two weeks after your application is received. A confirmation letter will be e-mailed, stating the maximum amount of bus funds that will be reimbursed after your field trip.
• To arrange for reimbursement after your field trip, please send a bus voucher or invoice and any other supporting documentation to Angel Tobin at angel.tobin@state.co.us. She will forward it to the Friends of Roxborough State Park for processing.
• The information must be submitted within 60 days after the visit to be reimbursed.

“During the first year, the program will focus on youngsters who may have never been to a state park before,” said Todd Farrow, Roxborough State Park Manager.

Metropolitan area schools in Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties are eligible for a reimbursement up to $150. Colorado schools outside the metropolitan area are eligible for a reimbursement up to $200.

If you have questions, please contact Angel Tobin at angel.tobin@state.co.us.  For more information about the program, visit www.parks.co.us, go to the Roxborough State Park page and then to “Nature’s Classroom.”  The Friends of Roxborough State Park, whose mission is to protect the park and promote nature education, created the Barbara Fritts Scholarship Fund.

If you would like to contribute towards this fund please send a check to the Friends of Roxborough State Park with a note stating the purpose. Send to:

The Friends of Roxborough
Barbara Fritts Scholarship Fund
4751 East Roxborough Drive.
Roxborough, CO 80125

Colorado Parks and Wildlife works hard to get everyone outdoors! They’re a leader in providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, protecting the state’s favorite landscapes, teaching generations about nature and partnering with communities. For more information on Colorado State Parks or to purchase an annual pass online, visit www.parks.state.co.us.