The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC.

Beginning today (December 8), eligible groups across the province can apply for funding for trail and outdoor infrastructure upgrades, stewardship and education initiatives, and inclusive programming.

This is the third intake for the grant program. To date, it has funded outdoor recreation projects in 61 communities, resulting in volunteers building 264 kilometres of trail, cleaning up 20,000 square metres of land and water, and educating more than 100,000 British Columbians.

“The Outdoor Recreation Fund has already supported an incredible mix of projects, from Indigenous-led stewardship and youth programs to new trail signage and community climbing access,” said Tomke Augustin, Grant Program Manager for the ORCBC.

“Each intake shows just how creative communities can be when they have a bit of support. It is exciting to see small rural clubs, First Nations, and larger regional partners all moving projects forward.”

The Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC invests in the places British Columbians live and love to explore. With a $10 million endowment from the Province of British Columbia in 2023, the fund provides grants to nonprofits, charities, local governments, and Indigenous governments for projects that enhance trails, backcountry and front-country sites, paddling access, and stewardship activities close to home.

In its first two intakes, the fund disbursed more than $500,000 to projects that ranged from youth programming to trailhead parking lots. The 62 awarded projects included 13 Indigenous groups and took place in communities from Sooke to Tumbler Ridge, Fernie to Bella Bella. Most of the work to date was done by volunteers who contributed more than 14,000 hours of work, valued at nearly $300,000.

Two local projects have received funding.

‘Recreate Responsibly in the Columbia Valley’ is an initiative to collaborate with outdoor recreation users to reduce their impacts on wildlife and habitat in the Columbia Valley. Key messages and information incorporated wildlife science, policy and regulation, and First Nations traditional knowledge.

The project aims to empower outdoor enthusiasts to reduce their impact and become effective stewards through education and events.

“By raising awareness of growing threats like invasive species, water quality degradation, and habitat loss the event helped build a shared commitment to protecting the future of these vital ecosystems,” said Ali Banting, event organizer, Wildsight Conservation Coordinator.

And the Wetland Education and Awareness Program focussing on the importance and functions of wetlands, connecting people to the natural environment and the management practices and conservation of the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area (CVWMA) and its connection to the greater goals of land conservation within the province.

The program is managed by the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC, a provincial non-profit that supports and connects outdoor recreation groups, builds volunteer capacity, and champions public access to BC’s land and water, representing more than 200,000 recreation users across the province.

It’s money well spent, said Eric Vanderkruk, Board Chair of ORCBC. “Volunteers are the backbone of outdoor recreation in B.C., and this fund is really a celebration of what they can achieve,” says Vanderkruk. “Whether it is brushing a trail, teaching safe boating, or hosting an adaptive hike, volunteers are the ones leveraging grant dollars to create meaningful impacts in their communities.”

“No group should hesitate to apply if they have a ready-to-go project that will help people get outside, care for local places, or make participation more inclusive,” Augustin said.

The application window is from December 8 to January 20, 2026. More details about eligibility, guidelines and deadlines are available at https://www.orcbc.ca/grants-for-outdoor-recreation .

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