About
Blue Sky Fund is a youth development non-profit that focuses on outdoor education for Richmond area youth. Its programming has evolved into three core programs that offer a continuum of nature-based activities for over 2,000 students each school year. Across these programs, participants spend over 40,000 hours outside each year, visiting more than 50 green spaces and engaging in outdoor education and adventure led by a team of outdoor enthusiasts, environmental educators, and nonprofit professionals.
Blue Sky Fund was born out of a passion to connect children from under-resourced areas to summer camp experiences, first through camp scholarships from 2003 to 2006, and then as an incorporated non-profit organization starting in 2007. Over the next sixteen years, its programming developed into three core programs that advance racial equity in the outdoors for over 2,000 students each school year. Blue Sky Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has adopted a 2026–2029 Strategic Plan with focus areas in programming, funding, operations, and governance.
The organization’s mission is to provide transformational experiences for Richmond area youth through outdoor education. It also aims to advance equity in the outdoors by developing diverse groups of environmental stewards and leaders in the community.
One 3rd grader in the Fairfield Court Explorers program described their experience by saying, “This is the best day ever! I don’t want to leave!” A Richmond Public Schools teacher, Kat Shearer, shared that the activities are fun and different from what can be done inside a classroom. A 6th grade participant named Kirsten said that, despite usually being an “inside person,” Blue Sky helped her explore a more adventurous side and think outside her comfort zone.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
Blue Sky Fund was born out of a passion to connect children from under-resourced areas to summer camp experiences, first through camp scholarships from 2003 to 2006, and then as an incorporated non-profit organization starting in 2007. Over the next sixteen years, its programming developed into three core programs that advance racial equity in the outdoors for over 2,000 students each school year. Blue Sky Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has adopted a 2026–2029 Strategic Plan with focus areas in programming, funding, operations, and governance.
The organization’s mission is to provide transformational experiences for Richmond area youth through outdoor education. It also aims to advance equity in the outdoors by developing diverse groups of environmental stewards and leaders in the community.
One 3rd grader in the Fairfield Court Explorers program described their experience by saying, “This is the best day ever! I don’t want to leave!” A Richmond Public Schools teacher, Kat Shearer, shared that the activities are fun and different from what can be done inside a classroom. A 6th grade participant named Kirsten said that, despite usually being an “inside person,” Blue Sky helped her explore a more adventurous side and think outside her comfort zone.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
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