Announcements
Arbor Day Poster Contest ~ deadline Jan. 27
Fifth grade classrooms and homeschools across America are invited
to participate in the 2006 Arbor Day National Poster Contest! This
year’s theme, "Trees are Terrific . . . in All Shapes and
Sizes!" is designed to increase knowledge about the importance
of tree diversity in a community. A free activity guide available
is available. Click
here for more details.
U.N. Promotes School Gardens Internationally
Looking for more evidence to support your conviction that school
gardens are important? The United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) presents information and policy framework for
the development of school gardens around the globe. For more information,
visit the FAO
Web site.
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Resources for Educators
Nourishing Lessons from NGA
This month, the Kidsgardening.com Teachers’ Resource Room features
the first of a three-part series on the relationship between
gardening, nutrition, and education across the curriculum! This month’s
installment focuses on the concept of Slow Food, and introduces taste
education with six new activities to use in your classroom. Visit
the Teachers' Room.
"What's in the Foods You Eat" Database
This free database on the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
Web site great way to compare, nutrient by nutrient, the healthfulness
of various foods. It covers the foods people eat most, including
fast-food entrees and granola bars, along with whole foods such
as fruits and vegetables. You'll find a 61-nutrient profile for
each food listed! Visit
the ARS site to access or download the database.
School Garden Wizard
Developed by the US Botanic Garden and Chicago Botanic Garden, the
School Garden Wizard is a Web site designed to support new and
existing school garden efforts. You'll find expert advice on getting
assistance for your garden program; lesson plans and
guidance for teaching to standards in the garden; practical gardening
advice;
and more. Visit
the School Garden Wizard
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Funding
Opportunities
2nd
Annual "Remember Me" Rose School Garden Awards ~ Apply
by Feb. 1, 2006
This
award will help 20 schools establish rose gardens to commemorate
the events
of September 11th. Beyond their commemorative significance,
each garden will also be a catalyst for education in conflict resolution
and mediation skills, preparing students to seek and achieve
fair and peaceful solutions. For more information and to download
an application, click
here.
12th
Annual Kids Growing with Dutch Bulbs Awards ~ This
program of the Mailorder Gardening Association, offered in conjunction
with
the International
Flower Bulb Center, Dutch Bulb Exporters, and the North American
Flower Bulb Wholesalers Association, awards
schools with a package of 200 premium Dutch flowering bulbs and
related educational activities.
Application deadline: April 1, 2006. Learn
more here.
2006
Mantis Awards ~ Mantis proudly announces its expanded
2006 award program in support of charitable and educational
garden programs that
enhance
the quality of life in their host communities. In partnership with
Mantis, NGA will select 25 gardens to receive a prize: 20 will
each receive a Mantis Tiller/Cultivator, and five will receive
a ComposT-Twin composting system. We welcome applications from
all nonprofits; past winners include
community gardens, schools, ministries,
colleges, master gardening groups, and hospices. Learn
more here.
Toyota Tapestry Grants ~ Apply by Jan. 19
The 2006 Toyota TAPESTRY program will award 50 grants of up to $10,000 each and
a
minimum of 20 "mini-grants" of $2,500 each to K-12 science teachers.
The Environmental Science Education category funds projects that emphasize
the efficient
use of natural resources and protection of the environment. Students participating
in these projects should gain an increased awareness of the terrestrial, aquatic,
and/or atmospheric environment and an understanding of their own interdependence
with the natural world. Click
here for more details.
Volvo Adventure
Youth Environmental Award ~ Apply by Jan. 31
Volvo
is offering young people (between 10 and 16 years of age) the chance
to
devise
and publish action plans to help their environment. The best teams will be asked
to
represent their country at an all expenses paid trip to the Volvo Young
Environmentalist's conference in Sweden. There they will compete for top prizes
of
$10,000, $6,000 or $4,000 to help their projects. Click
here for more details.
Copyright© 2005
National Gardening Association
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December
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