The Johnstown Flood National Memorial has been selected as a recipient of the National Park Foundation's America's Best Idea Grant. The park joins 48 other parks across the country selected to participate in the 2012 program.
The $15,000 grant will go to a program that connects young people to the parks and historic sites throughout the region. Megan O'Malley, Chief of Interpretation at The Johnstown Flood National Memorial, said they will be offering several events.
"We have activities planned every month through the summer and then into the fall, and we've been meeting a couple of times a month to touch base on developments, to clarify logistics for the program," O'Malley said.
Participants in the seven-month program will learn about history, the environment, and visit sites such as the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and the Flight 93 Memorial, as well as trips to several state and local parks.
O'Malley said the summer events will conclude with a five day camp. "There will be hiking, there will be biking and fishing, they will be doing rock climbing and outdoor activities that they just simply wouldn't have access to otherwise," O'Malley said.
America's Best Idea program is sponsored by the National Park Foundation and was inspired by the Ken Burns documentary, The National Parks: America's Best Idea. It is designed to fund park projects that aim to connect diverse, under-engaged populations throughout the country in meaningful and innovative ways.