Nature Education Grants Available

Who should apply for The Nature of Learning start-up grants? Schools or non-profit organizations, including "Friends" groups, Cooperative and Interpretive Associations, Audubon Chapters, etc., are eligible to apply for funding. By becoming part of The Nature of Learning program, your community will be eligible for financial and technical assistance to help achieve the following:

• Build educational value on refuges so that visits, exposure and enthusiasm on public lands expand and continue;
• Introduce a process to enhance critical thinking skills and better prepare students as future community leaders;
• Create long-lasting relationships among teachers, local businesses, community leaders and refuge personnel; and
• Develop and nurture a strong sense of stewardship and civic pride using the refuge and community as outdoor classrooms.

Programs must involve a partnership among a local school(s), community group (e.g., Refuge Support Group), and National Wildlife Refuge. Letters of support are strongly encouraged and a letter from the refuge manager must be included with the on-line application.

• Programs must be designed to meet all of the key elements of The Nature of Learning framework (i.e., partnerships, integrated learning, professional development, etc.) over time. Moreover, programs must promote an understanding of local conservation issues, improve scientific literacy, and conform to appropriate academic standards of learning.
• Projects must be completed within 18 months.
• Grant funding will be disbursed at the beginning of each phase of the project with 10% of the funds held back for dispersal upon receipt of The Nature of Learning program final accomplishment report.
• Programs are expected to include an outdoor classroom experience for students and teachers at a National Wildlife Refuge and must also include a community stewardship project.
• Existing conservation education programs are eligible for funding and technical assistance so long as there is a commitment to meet all of the elements of The Nature of Learning framework (see FWS website for additional information on key elements).
• Preference will be given to start-up programs that can demonstrate a commitment to sustaining the program over time.
• Matching contributions are not required; however strong preference will be given to applications that leverage the grant award with contributions from project partners.
• First year start-up grants are available for up to $10,000.
• Second year follow-up grants, up to $5,000, are available to support continued implementation of The Nature of Learning program.
• To receive a follow-up The Nature of Learning program grant, you must reapply and will need to provide an accomplishment report with your application.  The accomplishment report must detail the outcomes and achievements of The Nature of Learning start-up grant.

The application deadline is early to mid June, annually

Go directly to guidelines and application