Help us leave a legacy.
FPTA is building the next generation of paddlers and waterway stewards.
In partnership with paddling outfitters across Florida, FPTA seeks to get young people outdoors, on the water, and engaged. Together we’re educating and motivating tomorrow’s paddlers and caretakers of the waterways we all enjoy.
The Taylor Howard Youth Paddling Fund
Taylor Howard Youth Paddling Fund
In 2016, FPTA's vision was founded to be a resource for partner-based youth education, and established the FPTA Legacy Fund. Since then, every year FPTA awards grants that support sending children to paddling camps across Florida. Not only are we building future paddlers, we are teaching these kids how to be good stewards of Florida waters.
In 2023, the FPTA Board of Directors renamed the Legacy Fund to the Taylor Howard Youth Paddling Fund. Taylor Howard, a Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail (FL CT) paddler began the FL CT in 2017 when she was 10 years old, with her father, younger brother, and sister. Taylor completed more than half the CT before she lost her life in a car accident. The Taylor Howard Youth Paddling Fund reflects the spirit and passion of youth paddling that FPTA originally envisioned and that Taylor Howard fully embraced.
How the Program Works
All year long, FPTA raises money for the Legacy Fund.
100% of donations made to the Legacy Fund on the FPTA website, go directly toward the Legacy Fund Program.
40% of purchases in the FPTA store are specifically earmarked for the Legacy Fund.
20% of FPTA Membership dues are specifically earmarked for the Legacy Fund.
All funds raised on social media platforms (Go Fund Me, Facebook, etc.) go directly to the Legacy Fund (less platform fees).
Donations are combined with grant funds to provide camp scholarships.
Are you an outfitter or agency that has established summer paddling programs? Step one, become an FPTA Business Member (to learn more about Business Member benefits, visit our website). Step two, fill out the Taylor Howard Youth Paddling Fund Scholarship Grant form and the FPTA’s Taylor Howard Youth Paddling Fund Coordinator will contact you.
The Impact
Each week of camp costs an average of $200 per child. Some programs match contributions to extend our reach. If only eight people donate $25 each, we can send a kid on a paddling adventure or a camp. With your help, we can an make this number 500 or more!
With the donations we raise, we hope to support paddling camp scholarships for up to 500 students across Florida. These would be 500 kids who are NOT inside staring at screens all day long; They’re outdoors, learning about the watery ecosystems out their back door and how to paddle a navigate a kayak or paddleboard through them.
Since its launch in 2016, we have sent over 400 youth on paddling adventures (not all have attended week-long camps) around Florida. Some camp providers talk of kids returning to their programs to become "junior rangers" who mentor new children as they climb aboard canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards for the first time. One camp even involves kids in building kayaks!
What We Need
Want to help create the next generation of paddlers and water stewards? We need donations to help fund the summer paddling adventures/camp scholarships. Every dollar helps! Please make your tax deductible donation online today by clicking on the green button below. If you prefer to handle things the old fashioned way, please make your check payable to the FPTA and note Legacy Fund in the lower left corner. Send it to: Florida Paddling Trails Association, PO Box 142082, Gainesville, FL 32614.
FPTA's Taylor Howard Youth Paddling Fund has been a vital resource in providing paddling education and a passion for the outdoors. At Virginia Key Outdoor Center, we match FPTA funds and provide working parents with the break they need to send their kids to camp. By offering full and partial scholarships, we extend the reach of funds three-fold. The personal growth, self confidence, and smiles on our campers’ faces say it all!
--Esther Alonso-Luft
“Thank you for sponsoring me so I could attend kayak camp this summer. I learned so much. By the end of the first day of camp, my nickname was ‘Nature Nate’ because I loved learning about nature!”
— Nature Nate Banks, Florida Keys