Harrah’s Ak-Chin Partners with National Park Trust to Sponsor Saddleback Elementary School in Buddy Bison Program

(MARICOPA, Ariz. – June 20, 2023) Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino today announced a partnership with the National Park Trust via a Caesars Foundation grant to sponsor Saddleback Elementary School’s participation in the Buddy Bison School Program. Incorporating stewardship, recreation, and education in an “outdoor” classroom setting, the Buddy Bison School Program provides opportunities for interactive and exciting learning experiences that educate students on multiple aspects of the environment, including ecosystems, the importance of conservation, and encouraging active involvement and exploration of the outdoors.

The 140 students from Saddleback Elementary School participated in an outdoor class on the Characteristics of the Sonoran Desert held at Chandler Nature Center. Activities included but were not limited to nature walks, scavenger hunts and a desert adaption game. Each student also had an opportunity a design their own desert animal.

“Our students really enjoyed learning more about the Sonoran Desert and participating in such fun activities, ” said Tanya Nielsen, Saddleback Elementary School third-grade teacher. “It is one thing to talk about it in the classroom, but getting to experience it first-hand really enhances the students’ learning experience.”

In addition to supporting the outing at the Chandler Nature Center, Harrah’s Ak-Chin HERO members assembled Adventure packs for each student that included binoculars, notebooks, pencils, and a mini plush version of the National Park Trust’s lovable wooly mascot, Buddy Bison.

“Our Caesars Foundation partnership with the National Park Trust continues to foster our culture of giving back to the community,” says HERO Committee Chair Barbara Achten. “Our Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino HERO Committee had fun interacting with the students from Saddleback Elementary School. The smiles on their faces were a mile wide!”

Now in its 15th year, National Park Trust’s Buddy Bison School Program helps more than 20,000 students connect with parks nationwide annually. The lovable woolly mascot, Buddy Bison, encourages kids to “explore outdoors, the parks are yours!”

The program engages kids with the great outdoors by providing fully funded park experiences that:

• enhances classroom curricula in science, history, and civics,
• fosters health and wellness through outdoor recreation, and
• mentors future park stewards and conservationists,

The program serves approximately 200 Title I public, public charter, and private K-12 schools annually in 40 states and Washington, DC. More than 80 percent of the student participants currently qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the federal indicator of low income.

About National Park Trust:

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, National Park Trust’s mission is to preserve parks today and create park stewards for tomorrow. Since 1983, the Park Trust has acquired many of the missing pieces of our national parks, benefiting 52 national park sites. Our national youth education and family initiatives, including our Buddy Bison Programs and National Kids to Parks Day, serve hundreds of Title I schools annually and cultivate future park stewards. We believe that our public parks, lands, and waters should be cared for, enjoyed, and preserved by all for current and future generations. Find out more at parktrust.org.

About Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino: 

For nearly 30 years in Maricopa, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is Arizona’s first and only tribal casino to have an international management partner. Harrah’s Ak-Chin is the only casino in Arizona that allows guests, through its Caesars Rewards program, to unlock benefits and other prizes that can be used worldwide at the entire Caesars family of casinos.

Harrah’s Ak-Chin also boasts one of the two bingo halls within the Caesars portfolio, continuing the proud heritage of William F. Harrah, who opened his first bingo hall in Reno in 1937.

In addition to craps, sports betting, slot machines, video poker, video keno, statewide progressives and blackjack, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino guests can also enjoy a variety of dining options, including the Copper Cactus Grill, Chop, Block & Brew, Oak & Fork, Agave’s Restaurant and Dunkin’®.

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino features 529 luxurious resort and tower guestrooms, spa and fitness center, and an outdoor swimming pool with a swim-up bar.

For more information about Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, visit www.harrahsakchin.com. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-NEXT STEP. ©2023 Caesars License Company, LLC.

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