Mini Grant Program for Teachers

The Sacramento Area Creeks Council
Mini-Grant Program for Teachers

Why Teach Children About Creeks?
Creeks naturally attract children of all ages. They are just about the right size body of water for easy exploration. With flowing water, wooded banks, a variety of wildlife - combined with a ready-made fascination - local creeks are an ideal resource for teaching science concepts.

Using creeks as outdoor classrooms provides concrete associations between students and their natural world. Understanding how human activities alter our environment in positive and negative ways allows students to become informed participants in their own futures. According to the State of California Department of Education, "research shows that environment-based education improves students' academic performance and test scores, reduces discipline and attendance problems, and increases their ability to transfer knowledge to new contexts."

Purpose of Sacramento Area Creeks Council (SACC) Mini-grant Program
The purpose of the mini-grant program is to encourage teachers to educate students about their local creeks and the many benefits they provide, including abundant aesthetic, recreational and ecological values. It also provides incentive to give students an outdoors, hands-on experience that takes their learning to a more concrete and meaningful level.

Grant Amount
Awards will be granted in amounts up to $500 per project.

Examples of possible projects:

Take a field trip to enhance a creek-related classroom activity
Teach lessons from the mini curriculum, Dipping Into Creeks, available from SACC, or lessons from Project WET
Sign-up for one of the Aquatic Ecosystems classroom programs from Effie Yeaw Nature Center such as Dipping Into Creeks in the Classroom
Develop and teach an art or reading/writing lesson using the creek environment as the topic
Test the water quality of a creek near your school
Adopt a creek to use for integrated studies

Funds must not be used for: • Food • Salaries • Personal mileage

Who May Apply?
All K-12 educators at schools within Sacramento County may apply for a grant.

Deadline for Application
Entries are due no later than April 15, 2010. Winners will be notified by the end of April.

Award Criteria
Project proposals will be funded based on the following criteria:

Actively engages students in learning & enhances classroom experience in a creative way (20%)
Budget clearly supports the activities (20%)
Project impact extends beyond the immediate classroom (20%)
Provides students with a meaningful outdoor/creek experience (20%)
Provides a measure of project’s success (20%)

Grant Requirements and Responsibilities

Recipients will be required to provide a brief report on the outcomes of their project, including an accounting of how the grant funds were used (receipts or other proof of expenses required) within one year of receiving the grant.
Recipients must submit samples of materials or work pertaining to the project, and digital photos or videos of project activities within one year of receiving the grant.
Grant funds are to be used only for the purposes for which the grant is made.
SACC representatives may visit the school or outdoor classroom/project to observe how the grant funds are being used and may require periodic reports.
SACC has the authority to withhold and/or recover grant funds in case such funds are, or appear to be, misused.
Recipients will return any unused portions of the grant funds to SACC

Project Leader/Manager
First & Last Name:
Street Address:
City, State, Zip:
Phone:
Email:

Grant Manager School secretary or other individual responsible for handling funds Checks must be made payable to the School
First & Last Name:
Street Address:
City, State, Zip:
Phone:
Email:

School Name:
School District:
School Address:
City/Zip:
School Phone:
Home Phone:
Grade Level(s):
Subject(s):
Project Title:

Please complete the following for full evaluation.

Project Description

1. Write a brief statement (no more than two pages) on the purpose and content of your project, including a description of:

The problem or issue your project will address
How many students will be reached?
Proposed tasks (including a timeline)
What you hope to accomplish & how you will measure success

2. Grant amount requested (Maximum: $500):
Please provide a detailed accurate list of any expense items and their costs for the grant amount requested. One item per line. Make sure to include shipping, handling, and taxes, where applicable. Eligible items include: purchase of materials and supplies, equipment rental, bus rental, tours/field trips, and purchase of native vegetation.

Total Grant Amount Requested: (Maximum $500)

Sacramento Area Creeks Council, 4855 Hamilton Street Sacramento, California 95841
phone (916) 454 - 4544 email: ucc@arcadecreekrecreation.com