SALISBURY — Knollwood Elementary School received the NC School Go Outside grant form the NC Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council.

Knollwood is the first school in the county to receive the $1,050 grant, which will provide funding to allow second graders to go on an overnight camping trip to Camp Barnhardt in October. The trip will teach students how to interact with the environment in a hand-on way with camping, canoeing and hiking.

Shonda Hairston, the principal at Knollwood, expressed her excitement of the school being the grant recipient.

“We have worked to provide our students with experiences outside of the classroom, because we want them to develop a greater understanding of and appreciation for nature,” she said. “Funding from this grant will allow our students to camp, hike, canoe, roast marshmallows and just enjoy the great outdoors.

State Rep. Harry Warren, R-76, said he was delighted to inform the applicant Marie Llanez, a Knollwood teacher, that the school was chosen.

“I applaud Ms. Llanez for taking the initiative to apply for the grant on behalf of her students, and I commend the NC Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council for the excellent work they do,” Warren said. “It is important for our students to have hands-on learning that adds to their educational experiences.”

The NC Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council established the NC Schools Go Outside grants earlier this year. The grants range from $250 to $2,500 to access field study locations and assist with other expenditures that result from taking students outdoors.

“We love awarding grants to schools that are taking students outdoors to learn and have experiences with the outdoor activities for possibly the first time,” OHAC Executive Director Justin Burr said. “We understand that funding is often the largest barrier to getting students outdoors.