The School Forest Education
Plan Sample Proposal is designed to serve as a starting point for your
It is anticipated the project
director will alter the sample budget in order to meet district needs. The
maximum award is $5,000. Project director may request $5,000 or any lesser
amount. Grant funds requested must directly facilitate the
development, enhancement or modification of a school forest education plan.
Grant funds may not be used for any other purpose including the
implementation of a school forest education plan. Implementation proposals must
be submitted within the school forest category and are only available to
districts that have approved school forest education and school forest
management plans on file with the School Forest Education Specialist.
To receive full
consideration, make sure the minimum criteria for funding summarized in the Quality Assurance Checklist are met.
Before submitting a proposal,
districts are strongly encouraged to conduct a school forest needs assessment(s)
to determine what may be preventing students (and potentially teachers and
community members) from receiving the full educational benefits of the school
forest. Suggestions for areas to assess include:
§
Current student
environmental education literacy levels
§
Training issues
(e.g., content knowledge and teaching methods repertoire of staff)
§
Administrative
support
§
Community support
§
Logistical issues
(e.g., scheduling, chaperones/supervision, distance from other district
facilities (travel time))
§
Equipment/Resource
Support issues (e.g., availability and condition of field equipment)
§
Facility issues
(e.g., toilets, shelter from inclement weather, trails, parking)
§
Transportation/access
issues (including access for those with disabilities and liability issues if
site is used by outside groups)
Project directors are
strongly encouraged to include specific results from needs assessment(s) within
the Need and Evidence of Need section
of the proposal. Suggested areas to address include:
§
Student EE
literacy levels
§
Current school
forest use patterns and levels
§
Barriers to full
utilization of the school forest
It is expected, at a minimum,
the project director will update the sample proposal so the items highlighted
in yellow reflect district specific information. (In other words, the proposal
will be strengthened by the identification and inclusion of district specific
information.)
For assistance contact:
Jeremy Solin phone:
715 346-4907
Wisconsin School Forest
Education Specialist fax:
715 346-3025
Learning Experiences and
Activities in Forestry (LEAF) Email:
jsolin@uwsp.edu
Room 109
UW-Stevens Point