2006 "Growing
Good Kids – Excellence in Children’s Literature” Awards
Created by the American Horticultural Society and the Junior Master
Gardener program, the “Growing Good Kids – Excellence in Children’s
Literature” award program honors outstanding children’s gardening
and nature books. For titles and descriptions of this year's winners,
visit the JMG
Web site.
Fresh
Ideas for Teaching
Genetics in Grades 9-12
Teaching genetic concepts with the same old pink petunias and Mendel’s
peas can get a little repetitious. With Garden Genetics,
now available from NSTA Press, teachers can present
core content
in ways that are fresh for them and fun for students. The two-part
set — a teacher edition (which includes a full student
edition)
and
separate student edition — is adaptable to biology students at all
levels, including AP. To browse sample chapters and to order, visit
the NSTA Web site.
Take Part in Journey North
Teachers and students in K-12 classrooms are invited to
participate in Journey North’s 14th global study of wildlife
migration
and seasonal change. One of the nation’s premier Internet-based “citizen
science” projects, Journey North enables students in 11,000 schools
to track the seasons on a real-time basis. Standards-based lesson
plans, activities, and information help students make local observations
and fit them into a larger context by collecting and submitting data
into common database. Learn
more about Journey
North.
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Conferences
National Garden Policy Conference at Drake University ~
Sept. 7-8, 2006
NGA has joined the Agricultural Law Center at Drake University in
Des Moines, Iowa, to organize a two-day conference, "Gardens
for All: People, Plants, and Policy."
This historic conference will take a comprehensive look at the role
of federal, state, and local policy in shaping
gardening in the United States, covering topics from school gardening
to food security.
For more
information about the conference registration details, please
visit here.
North
American Association for Environmental Education
Annual Conference
~ October 10-13, 2006
Gather with
colleagues in St. Paul, Minnesota, for more than 350 presentations,
three exceptional keynote speakers, 17 pre-conference
workshops,
14 field
trips,
and an exhibit
fair. Special discounted registration rates available for classroom
teachers, students, and retirees, and there are a limited number
of scholarships available to students, individuals from minority
cultures, and K-12 teachers. For full details visit
the NAAEE Web site.
___________________________
Funding
Opportunities (Listed chronologically by deadline date)
Lowe's
Outdoor Classroom Grant Program ~ Deadline: August 31
This program provides outdoor, hands-on science education to students in grades
K-12 and assists schools in enhancing their core curriculum in all subjects.
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper, and National
Geographic Explorer! classroom magazine have partnered to create an outdoor
classroom grant program to provide schools with additional resources to improve
their science curriculum by engaging students in hands-on experiences outside
the traditional classroom. All K-12 public schools in the United States are welcome
to apply. Visit
the Web site for more information.
Starbucks
Foundation: Giving Voice ~ Deadline: September 1
Giving Voice funds programs for youth ages 6-18 that integrate literacy with
personal and civic action in the communities where they live. The Starbucks Foundation
invites letters of inquiry from qualifying 501(c)3 organizations that work with
underserved youth in the fields of literacy (reading, writing, and creative/media
arts) and programs that offer place-based approaches to addressing environmental
literacy and empower youth to be heroes for a sustainable environment in their
own communities. Grants range from $5,000-$20,000. Learn more at the Starbucks
Foundation Web site.
American Horticultural Society Awards ~ Nominations due September 22
Through its national awards programs, the American Horticultural Society (AHS)
celebrates outstanding achievements, encourages excellence, and inspires innovation
in the art and science of horticulture. The AHS sponsors several awards including
the Jane L. Taylor Award and Teaching Award reserved for educators. To make nominations
for the 2007 awards, download a form from the AHS
Web site.
Project Learning Tree's GreenWorks Grants ~ Deadline: September 29
Do you have an idea for an exciting service-learning or community action project
for your students but you don't have enough funds to implement it? Why not
apply for one of PLT's GreenWorks! grants? GreenWorks! offers educators the
opportunity to apply for grants to implement community action and service-learning
projects. Across the country, PLT trained educators teaching in both formal
and non-formal settings are eligible to apply for and receive GreenWorks! grants. Click
here for more details.
2006
Hooked on Hydroponics Awards ~ Deadline:
September 30
Classroom hydroponics offers eager students loads of opportunities
to explore concepts across the curriculum, from biology to
economics. Twelve educational
programs will each receive a compact hydroponics package that includes everything
required to grow plants successfully indoors. This award is sponsored by
the Hydroponic Merchants Association and leading hydroponics
equipment suppliers. Learn
more here
Captain
Planet Foundation ~ Deadline: September 30
Committed to supporting hands-on environmental projects for young people, the
foundation provides grants from $250 to $2,500 to school and community groups.
The next quarterly deadline is September 30, 2006. Visit the Web
site for guidelines and a proposal form.
Healthy
Sprouts Awards ~ Deadline: October
15
These awards support school garden
programs that use the garden to teach about nutrition and the
issue of
hunger in the United States. Sponsored by Gardener’s Supply
Company. In this grant cycle we will present awards to 25 schools
or organizations.
Each will receive a $200 gift certificate to Gardener's Supply
Company and a curriculum package from NGA. To learn more or
download an application, visit
here.
Lowe's
Toolbox for Education ~ Deadline: October 15
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) provides grants of up to
$5,000 to nonprofit K-12 school or parent groups to support projects that encourage
parent involvement and build stronger community spirit. The deadline is October
15, 2006, or when 1,500 applications are received, so get your application in
early! See the Lowe's
Web site for details.
2006
Organic School Garden Awards ~ Deadline:
October 31
Do you use organic
methods in your school garden? If so, you are eligible to enter
this contest
sponsored
by
The Rodale
Institute. Teams of students and teachers are asked to submit an
essay and poster that express how they use their school garden
as a learning tool, how they use the produce they grow, and what
impact it has for the students and community. Three winning schools
will
receive
cash
prizes
of
$250, $500, and
$1,000. The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2006. Visit
the
Web site for entry forms, guidelines, and information on previous
winners.
The
Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant ~ Deadline: November
15
This program gives small monetary
grants to schools, nature centers, or other nonprofit
educational organizations for the purpose of establishing outdoor
learning centers.
Funds must be used to purchase native plants and
seeds. To qualify for a grant, organizations must successfully
reflect the Wild Ones mission: To educate and share information
about the benefits of using native plants in our landscape, and
to promote
biodiversity and environmentally sound practices.
Visit
here for
more information.
I Love Schools.com
Iloveschools.com is a free donor-matching service for education.
Teachers build WishLists of equipment, materials and supplies — anything
they need for their classrooms. Donors locate teachers through
the WishList search and offer their donations
of new or
used items, or the funds towards the teacher's WishList.
Learn more at the I
Love Schools.com Web site.
Grant
Wrangler Funding Directory
Grant
Wrangler is a free grants listing service that makes it easy for teachers
to find funding. To see the full list of funding opportunities, and
to subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter, visit the Grant
Wrangler Web site.