University of Florida (Florida Museum of Natural History)

The Florida Museum of Natural History will expand the Museum in the Parks program to reach youth who are typically underrepresented in museum programs and in the science field. Participants will learn about natural history in outdoor state and local park settings by interacting with scientists, exploring museum collections, observing live organisms, and participating in hands-on activities. The museum will hire two part-time education assistants to lead the development and delivery of the virtual and in-person programs. Libraries, community partners, and the general public will also have access to the project resources online in the form of Museum in the Parks kits, videos, and activity guides. By collaborating with a variety of community partner organizations, the museum hopes the program will bring diverse communities together to learn about natural history, while making its research and collections more widely accessible.