Cincinnati Parks Foundation Scholarship Fund

Established by the Cincinnati Parks Foundation, this scholarship aims to provide families with the opportunity to attend the Cincinnati Parks day camps. 

Application Requirements

Scholarship applications must be for children between 3½–15 years old, who's families can demonstrate a financial need. Scholarship priority is given to City of Cincinnati residents. Applications from the greater Cincinnati region are welcome, with additional priority given to individuals from historically underserved communities, Justice40 (J40) communities, or areas experiencing disproportionate environmental, health, or climate-related impacts. 

Proof of Assistance (POA): Upload or email one of the following documents:

• Medicaid benefits for the child receiving the scholarship.
• Proof of the child’s enrollment in the federal lunch program.
• Unemployment paperwork for the parent or legal guardian.
• Other documents may also be considered such as other government and public assistance programs (SNAP, TANF, WIC, Section 8 housing), and other state or federal assistance programs. 

Application Deadline:

Scholarships applicants who apply before end of the day on January 31, 2026.  May be able to receive priority access for summer camp registration. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, and scholarships and start being awarded the first week of February and continue through the end of April.  Deadline to apply for a summer camp scholarships is Monday, May 25th, 2026

Scholarship Award Process:

Scholarship spots are awarded based on the order in which we receive completed applications, including all required supporting documents. It's crucial to ensure your application is fully complete upon submission. Please be aware that scholarship spots are not guaranteed and are awarded as funds allow. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please read and follow the instructions below:

1. Complete Application and Upload Proof of Financial Need: Begin your application by uploading documentation that demonstrates your financial need. Photographs or scanned images of the required documents are acceptable. You will need to complete a separate application for each child. 

2. Application Submission and Notification: Upon submission of your application, you will receive an email notification regarding your scholarship award status, which will include a scholarship code. This code must be used to register for camp via the registration website: https://explorenature.regfox.com/bestsummercamps. The scholarship code is valid for 30 days from the date of the initial email notification. The scholarship code, when applied at checkout, will provide an 80% discount. Registration for camp, along with payment of the remaining balance, must be completed through the website.  Registration opens February 28, 2026.

3. Priority Registration for Summer Camp: For summer camp applications, scholarship recipients may be granted priority access to registration if the application is received before end of the day on January 31, 2026. Priority registration must be used before registration opens.

*This email address will be used to send scholarship information; please make sure you check this email address. 

Proof of Assistance (POA): To demonstrate a financial need, upload one of the following documents:

• Medicaid benefits for the child receiving the scholarship.
• Proof of the child’s enrollment in the federal lunch program.
• Unemployment paperwork for the parent or legal guardian.
• Other documents may also be considered such as: Other government and public assistance programs such as WIC, Section 8 housing, or any other state, or federal assistance programs. 

Privacy Statement : All personal information collected in this application is private and confidential and used for income verification purposes, these records will not be shared without your authorization.

 Let us Know if you have a priority location or camp in mind.

Camp selection is not guaranteed, and spots will NOT be held for scholarships applicants.  Once a scholarship is awarded, you must register for camp using the registration link provided. 

Register for Cincinnati Summer Camps using the link: 2026 Summer Camp Registration Link