Uplift Youth Fund Supports Field Institute of Taos Summer Outdoor Education Scholarships

The Field Institute of Taos was a recipient of Taos Ski Valley’s inaugural Uplift Youth Fund awards in 2025 and leveraged the support to expand access to outdoor education by providing scholarships for local Taos youth to participate in its summer camp and bike programs. Taos Ski Valley also supported The Field Institute of Taos’ annual Rally in the Valley community fundraiser event hosted by New Belgium with a scavenger hunt taking place at the ski resort on March 21.

Launched in January 2025 by Taos Ski Valley, the Uplift Youth Fund provides $100,000 annually to local organizations through youth-focused projects. The fund supports initiatives in four key areas: outdoor equity and youth programming, environmental stewardship, economic and workforce development, and connection to community. Grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 are awarded twice yearly to nonprofits and organizations serving Taos County and northern New Mexico youth.

In March 2025, the Field Institute of Taos received a $10,000 award from the Uplift Youth Fund, a new Taos Ski Valley initiative dedicated to supporting youth-focused efforts in four key areas: outdoor equity and youth programming, environmental stewardship, economic and workforce development, and connection to the community. The award given to the Field Institute of Taos created summer camp scholarship opportunities for local families, enabling 109 campers to participate in summer camp programs and providing more than 600 days of outdoor camp experiences.

Expanded Access to Outdoor Learning

Founded in 1996, the Field Institute of Taos, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide hands-on, nature-based outdoor experiences that foster connection, environmental stewardship, and healthy outdoor lifestyles for youth and families in Taos. Active and experiential outdoor education programming include nature and adventure camps, backpacking and overnight wilderness trips, mountain bike programs, river experiences including fly-fishing and rafting, and neighborhood camps for younger children. The Field Institute of Taos allows for more local children to explore and learn from the outdoors.

Building on a 30 Year Partnership

The scholarships made possible by the new Uplift Youth Fund are part of a long-standing partnership between Taos Ski Valley and the Field Institute of Taos. For most of the Field Institute of Taos’ 30 years of programming, Taos Ski Valley has supported the organization through community events like Rally in the Valley, the annual Rubber Duck Race on July 4th, and the Ride the Rift community mountain bike event, as well as provided generous in-kind contributions, summer lift ticket access, and fundraising support.

“For nearly three decades, Taos Ski Valley has been an incredible partner to the Field Institute of Taos,” said Dr. Elizabeth LeBlanc, executive director of Field Institute of Taos. “Their support goes far beyond financial contributions; they have helped with events and in-kind resources as well that give more kids access and connection to outdoor experiences. The introduction of the Uplift Youth Fund provides such a focused, intentional way of giving for our community allowing us to offer more scholarships to help local children explore the mountains, rivers, and trails that make Taos so special.”

“The creation of the Uplift Youth Fund reflects Taos Ski Valley’s ongoing commitment to supporting youth and community organizations,” said Dawn Boulware, Taos Ski Valley vice president of social and environmental responsibility. “We received approximately 40 applications for the fund for the Winter 26 award cycle, which speaks to the strong need and enthusiasm across our community. The Field Institute of Taos has been inspiring kids to explore and care for the outdoors for decades, and we are proud that this funding helped expand access to summer camp scholarships for more local youth to participate in these meaningful outdoor experiences.”