Stewardship Grants
The Friends’ goal for the
Statema Stewardship Grants is to support stewardship education
opportunities as well as completing worthwhile projects in the
parks system. Do you know a teacher or youth group leader who
wants to lead a stewardship program in OC parks? They need to
coordinate the project with Parks staff (through the volunteer
coordinator or the NEC staff). If they could use a bit of
financial help (for tools, transportation, study materials,
etc.), please encourage them to apply for a grant from the
FOOCP’s Statema Stewardship Fund.
The grant application process is simple. Send a brief email to
ajhoban@aol.com or to info@friendsofocp.org describing the
project, amount being requested, what the funds would be used
for, and any other financial sources involved. The Grants
Committee will consider each application, confirm with parks
staff, may request some additional detail or clarification, and
will try to respond promptly.
Recent grant projects that were awarded and successfully
completed:
Arbor Day program for
youngsters to read a specific book about trees then complete a
project of planting saplings in the park. Imagine if they return
to the park in future years to see how their trees may have
grown! And the children in the program were able to take home a
small sapling to plant at home.
Living History at Connor Bayou
- including a trip in the Gabagouache. A Holland
school had an unexpected opportunity to attend the program when
another group had to cancel. But the new group did not have
budget for transportation of the 60 students. The Statema
Stewardship Fund provided enough $ to allow that group to
participate. We received rave reviews for the program from the
teacher and the students! And the parks staff & volunteers were
able to serve a full schedule for the day instead of having a
gap caused by a cancellation. Win, win.
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