NORTHEASTERN OREGON — The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry will be funding immersive education programs for youth across Northeastern Oregon and Southeastern Washington with grant funding from the Wildhorse Foundation.

The $3,000 grant will help fund programming in Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Benton, Columbia and Walla Walla counties in Oregon and Washington — the Wildhorse service area, according to press releases from OMSI and the Wildhorse Foundation.

The funding will support the museum’s Statewide Engagement program. Educators work with communities most affected by financial or geographic barriers to STEAM education — science, technology, engineering, arts and math — to create access to STEAM-focused lessons.

Wildhorse Foundation Administrator Ella Meyers praised OMSI’s work, which she said has more than doubled the amount of programming in the foundation’s giving area.

“Students in our rural area often lack access to high-quality, immersive science programming like this,” she said. “By bringing this valuable programming directly to us, OMSI is breaking down a significant barrier for rural youth — and the Wildhorse Foundation is proud to contribute to that effort.”

OMSI’s press release said the organization also provides financial aid for programming to Title 1 schools and community organizations to assist schools with their programs and help meet students’ needs. That money is provided through donors as well as grant awards.

“We know that for many in Oregon and Washington, the museum is far away and difficult to access,” said Steve Tritz, senior director of statewide and community engagement at OMSI, “which is why OMSI’s traveling education and statewide outreach programs are so vital.”

On a quarterly basis, the Wildhorse Foundation makes grants to eligible nonprofit, government and tribal organizations within the homeland area of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla people. Also eligible for funding are tribal government agencies or Indian charitable organizations with their base of operations in Oregon, as well as national or regional Indian organizations.

The Wildhorse Foundation has awarded a total of over $18 million in grant funding since 2001. Annual grant application deadlines are Jan. 1, April 1, July 1, and Oct. 1.