Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: To implement a new statute, RCW 79A.05.351. The purpose of the outdoor education and recreation grant program is to provide funds for outdoor environmental, ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based education and recreation programs serving youth; and to establish administrative procedures and set forth eligibility criteria and funding requirements by which the Washington state parks and recreation commission will award outdoor education and recreation grant funds and set conditions related to the use of grant funds.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 79A.05.030, 79A.05.070, and 79A.05.351.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 08-01-129 on December 19, 2007.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 10, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 10, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: February 21, 2008.

J. M. French, Administrator

Statewide Recreation Programs

OTS-1263.2

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     (2) "Commission" means the Washington state parks and recreation commission.

     (3) "Director" means the director of the Washington state parks and recreation commission or the director's designee.

     (4) "Education" means to improve students' overall academic performance, life skills, self-esteem, personal responsibility, community involvement, personal health and understanding of nature.

     (5) "Recreation" means experiences that take place within natural outdoor environments which foster well-being through a sense of place and interdependence within the natural world.

     (6) "State parks" means the operating arm of the Washington state parks and recreation commission, that is responsible for implementation of commission programs established pursuant to statute or policy.

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     (1) Outdoor recreation;

     (2) Outdoor environmental studies;

     (3) Agricultural;

     (4) Natural resource based;

     (5) Conservation;

     (6) Ecological;

     (7) Stewardship or restoration.

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     (1) Activities that may be perceived to lobby or advocate for political purposes.

     (2) Activities that are not in compliance with local, state and federal laws.

     (3) Organized youth sports such as a community league or school team.

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     (a) Consistency with the legislative intent of RCW 79A.05.351;

     (b) Availability of funds.

     (2) The director may determine that applicants be required to make a matching contribution to be eligible for funding.

     (3) The director may limit the amount of funding available for any element(s) of a program.

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     (1) Proposals that provide for public/private partnerships;

     (2) Proposals that provide for innovative ways to increase the availability and use of outdoor recreation facilities;

     (3) Proposals which show consideration for the economics of installation or implementation to provide greatest cost benefit ratio, for example, where private parties contribute more than the minimum amount;

     (4) Proposals which contribute to the statewide network of facilities or programs;

     (5) Proposals which demonstrate their compatibility with the legislative intent of RCW 79A.05.351;

     (6) Programs that contribute to the reduction of academic failure and drop out rates;

     (7) Programs that make use of research-based, effective environmental, ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based educational curriculum;

     (8) Proposals which encourage sound environmental practices through changing education or recreational behavior;

     (9) Proposals which target geographic areas as defined in RCW 79A.05.351;

     (10) Proposals which encourage community involvement;

     (11) Proposals which demonstrate innovative approaches to education or information;

     (12) Programs that will commit matching and in-kind resources;

     (13) Proposals that contribute to healthy lifestyles through outdoor recreation and sound nutrition;

     (14) Proposals that use state park and other natural resource venues and personnel as a resource;

     (15) Proposals that maximize the number of participants that can be served;

     (16) Proposals that provide an opportunity to experience the out-of-doors directly and understand nature and the natural world; and

     (17) Proposals that include ongoing program evaluation, assessment and reporting of their effectiveness.

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     (2) Staff will consult with and consider the recommendations of the advisory committee and will present final recommendations to the director.

     (3) The director will make the final decision on funding a project.

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     (1) Project contract. For every funded project, a contract must be executed on behalf of the commission and by the funding recipient. Generally, the funding recipient will not be reimbursed for costs incurred prior to the execution of the contract by both parties at the sole discretion of state parks.

     (2) Technical standards. The funding recipient for grants under this chapter shall ensure that all programs are in accordance with the technical standards provided by state parks.

     (3) Reporting requirements. The funding recipient shall submit the reports required by state parks as directed in the funding contract.

     (4) Compliance with state and federal laws, regulations, and policies. In accepting project funding, the funding recipient agrees to and certifies compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, regulations and policies.

     (5) Accountability. Funding recipients will maintain accurate accounting records on the expenditure of project funds, provide state parks with these records consistent with the agreement or upon request, and will permit state parks to audit the use of funds in accordance with generally accepted audit practices and standards. State parks reserves the right to terminate its participation in any project which fails to perform according to the requirements of this chapter.

     (6) Program evaluation should include participants, family members and teachers who can comment on academic grades or increased interest of the participant to remain in or return to school.

     (7) Fees charged. Fees for program services may be assessed for program participants with the approval of state parks.

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