When kids feel connected to nature, they’re more likely to get involved in wildlife conservation.
And this year, the mission is getting a boost. Through our collaboration with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), we’re proud to congratulate first-ever recipients of the Wild Futures Grant Program. Four AZA-accredited institutions will receive $10,000 to support impactful education activities that engage youth in hands-on conservation work.
“The Wild Futures Grant Program helps young people build the curiosity, understanding and passion needed to become tomorrow’s leaders in protecting and conserving wildlife,” Jen Wulf, vice president of Marketing at Mutual of Omaha, said.
2026 Wild Futures Grant Program recipients
South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston, South Carolina
Funding will provide general support for the South Carolina Aquarium’s Teen Conservation Crew, a paid career discovery program for high school students that builds conservation and climate resilience skills through interactive learning experiences. Funding will also support a day of experiential learning with the South Carolina 7 Expedition, connecting crewmates with a new ecosystem and statewide conservation leaders.
Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Tacoma, Washington
Granted funds will support three community science youth initiatives at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium: expanding student and public engagement in the zoo’s larval Dungeness crab monitoring program; growing the zoo’s gear library to reduce barriers to participating in Spot the Swallas, a long-running volunteer program; and expanding Explore the Shore, a free low-tide education program, by training additional interpreters and increasing coverage along the shoreline.
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Wild Futures Grant Program funding will provide operational support for Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo’s Conservation Discovery Corps, a year-round program that places high school students from across the state at the center of conservation science. Granted funds will also support the 2026 Eco-Expedition, which will send students into the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park to conduct original field research on climate change impacts, predator-prey dynamics and the reintroduction of apex predators.
Houston Zoo, Houston, Texas
The Houston Zoo’s Teen International Travel program gives Zoo Crew members the opportunity to work alongside the zoo’s global conservation partners in the field, including a trip to Belize in 2027, connecting teens to real-world wildlife conservation. The grant from Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom will support the program, making this experience accessible to the next generation of wildlife advocates.
Learn more about AZA programs.
