Natural Resources Conservation League - Environmental Education

Arbor Week 2008 - 23rd to 29th June

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GUIDELINES FOR ARBOR WEEK 2008 GRANT APPLICATIONS

The Natural Resources Conservation League annually invites schools and community groups to submit applications for grants to undertake local activities aimed at increasing students' input into improving and maintaining their local environment. The Council coordinating Arbor Week in Victoria consists of

  • The Natural Resources Conservation League
  • Melbourne Museum
  • Cranbourne Botanical Gardens
  • Greening Australia
  • Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
  • Department of Sustainability
  • Planet Ark
  • Environment Victoria

Other supporters of Arbor Week include regional Catchment Management Authorities, local councils and land-care and friends groups. (view supporters here)

In 2007 the Natural Resources Conservation League received 161 submissions for grants for Arbor Week and was pleased to award funding of up to $28,000 to 24 projects.

Guidelines

Who can apply?

  • All Victorian schools and educational institutions with school type settings.

What will the funding support?

  • A new planting of native plants or a supplementary planting of native plants.
  • Tree guards and stakes for the Arbor Week plantings.

Where can you have a project?

  • Within the school grounds, or;
  • In an area of community interest in which the school can be involved.Prior permission must be obtained from the appropriate landholder.

How many grants can you apply for?

  • Any school may apply for one grant per year.

What selection criteria must your project meet?

  • Well planned and presented submission, with evidence of student involvement in both the planning and execution.
  • Benefit the local natural environment by the planting of native species of plants. This includes all suitable species of native plants from trees to understorey plants to grasses and groundcovers.
  • Maintenance plan for the plantings.
  • Positive learning outcomes, linking to VELS.
  • Benefit the whole school and the wider community.
  • Promotion of Arbor Week
  • Planting must be undertaken within Arbor Week

When will schools receive notification of the awards of grants?

  • Six weeks prior to Arbor Week

When will your project start?

  • All projects must start to coincide with Arbor Week.
  • Arbor Week 2008 will be from 23rd - 29th June 2008

When do applications open? When do applications close?

  • Applications will open on Monday 1st October 2007.
  • Applications will close at 5.00 pm on Friday 4th April 2008

Please note applications must be received in our office by 5.00 pm on the 4th of April, along with all supporting documentation (plans, site photos etc). We will send you an email to let you know that your application has arrived.

How to lodge applications.

Applications must be mailed, couriered or hand delivered, emails or faxed copies will NOT be accepted.

MAIL your completed application form to:

Arbor Week Council
Natural Resources Conservation League
PO Box 577, Warburton, VIC, 3799.

COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FORM

All application details must be completed.

Criteria to be covered in order for your application to be accepted for consideration;

  • Information must cover the selection criteria (guidelines E)
  • Information must be typed.
  • Information must be complete in all areas

    1. Name of School

    • Full name of school, e.g. Maryborough High School.

    2. Contact Person for Project: (e.g. Principal / Supervisor)

    • Please ensure that the person listed is the first contact for your Arbor Week project.

    3. Date you will be running your Arbor Week launch and Arbor Week plantings

    • Plantings and launches must occur within Arbor Week

    Please note the information requested in questions 4, 5 and 6 are to provide statistical data for the Department of Education and Training and this information will not influence the outcome of your application.

    4. Organisation:

    • Tick appropriate box

    5. Students accessing program:

    • Tick appropriate box and give numbers of students

    6. Teachers accessing program:

    • Tick appropriate box and give numbers of teachers

    7. Project Title:

    • Give your project a title.
      (e.g. Revegetation of Sylvia Creek, Improving Habitat for the rare Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos)

      • Describe your project: minimum 100 words - maximum 500 words

    • Try to be descriptive and concise as we may use your school to launch Arbor Week.
    • Include project type (e.g. revegetation, supplementary planting)
    • Projects do not have to be within the school grounds

    8. Location of site/s:

    • Indicate where the main project activities will be held, this can be more than one site.
    • A site map or sketches of the site, photos and proposed plant species must accompany your application.
    • Local government and plant nurseries are usually able to guide you with appropriate plant species.

    9. What site preparation is needed?

    With the aid of your supporting organisations you should consider the following:

    • Do you need to control any weeds? How and when will you do this?
    • Will you provide mulch for the planting site?
    • Does the site need any work to improve the soil structure prior to planting?

    10. How many native plants will you be planting?

    • Give numbers of trees, numbers of understorey plants, numbers of groundcovers and numbers of wetland plants.
    • This will indicate the size and level of support needed for the project.

    11. What are the proposed environmental and educational outcomes of the project? (Minimum 100 words – maximum 500 words)

    • Environmental examples: create habitat, increase biodiversity, create shade
    • Educational outcomes: define the learning outcomes from the project, link learning outcomes to VELS

    12. List of proposed supporting organisations and sponsors:

    • Create links with organisations outside of schools, create links with community groups
    • To further develop your application supporting organisations can offer advice, local knowledge and expertise. Farmers, Volunteer Groups, Local Government Departments.
    • Fundraising will also help you to increase the educational and environmental outcomes of the project. Banks, local nursery, school events, private business.
    • For more funding opportunities go to: www.landcareonline.com

    13. Project Cost and Funding request:

    • Maximum grant allocated: $4000
    • We encourage applications to source and match our funding.

    Total Project Cost

    Item Cost Source
    Weed removal $350 Bert's Gardening
    Mulch $0 Local council
    3 metres organic compost $120 Bert's Nursery and Garden Supplies
    Water tank $1500 Local hardware
    Total Cost $1970  

    Funding Requested

    Item Cost
    300 indigenous understorey tube stock $300
    1000 native grasses tube stock $1000
    200 indigenous trees tube stock $200
    500 tree guards and stakes $750
    Total $2250

    14. How would your school launch Arbor Week 2007?

    • The start of Arbor Week is celebrated at schools with an opening ceremony. Be creative when planning your launch make it a memorable event.
    • We are looking for schools that care passionately about the environment, are willing to promote Arbor Week and invite public speakers.
    • Select a day during Arbor Week when you will be running your launch. You must notify Natural Resources Conservation League of any change of date.

    15. Authority to submit:

    • Natural Resource Conservation League of Victoria and members of the Arbor Week Council ensures that all the information provided will be only used for the purpose of processing the Arbor Week Grant Application.

    Name: Mr. Jones / Signature: / Date: x/x/2008