‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of Refuge teacher grants deadline Oct. 31
The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge, with J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, has announced its 12th annual round of teacher grants.
Up to $10,000 in grant awards are available to teachers in Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades and Hendry counties this school year for conservation education-related projects.
Teachers in the five-county area may apply for grants up to $1,000 each to purchase teaching aids, books, and classroom materials; fund new classroom science projects; take field trips; or conduct work projects in the community.
All schools are invited to submit conservation-related proposals by Oct. 31, 2017. The approved proposals will be awarded by December 2017 for projects to be completed by May 2018.
“With environmental education funding being cut throughout the school district, teachers and students are grateful to receive our grants to fund special projects,” said Wendy Kindig, DDWS Environmental Education Committee chair. “It’s an important part of the society’s mission to educate and create future conservation stewards from our young students of today.”
In the past 11 years, DDWS has granted more than $73,000 to local schools for environmental projects. The teacher grants are funded by DDWS monies received from the DDWS Conservation Education Endowment Fund established by Jay “Ding” Darling’s grandson, the late Kip Koss.
To make a tax-deductible donation in support of the fund, contact DDWS executive director Birgie Miller at 239-292-0566 or director@dingdarlingsociety.com.
For further grant information and an application, visit tinyurl.com/dinggrants, or contact Sarah Lathrop at 239-472-1100, extension 233, or sarah@dingdarlingsocie ty.org.