More Kids in the Woods
Deadline: March 16, 2007
The USDA Forest Service has announced a call for proposals for the agency's "More Kids in the Woods" initiative. This is not a traditional grant application but could be an opportunity for significant support.
Inspired by the Richard Louv book, "Last Child in the Woods," the agency is seeking partnership projects that will connect young people to nature. Projects must clearly identify strategies for reaching urban and underserved youth. Projects DO NOT need to occur on National Forest System lands. For example, use of a local park or state lands may be appropriate depending on location and activities.
To apply, you MUST be working in concert with a National Forest System office. The final project proposal must be submitted by the NFS office, not by a 501c3, so advance coordination will be necessary if you want to try to apply. This is a new initiative with a fairly short deadline, so this could be a good opportunity for new partners and cooperators to approach the agency with ideas.
Developing a Relationship
If you do not have a relationship with the National Forest System, here is how you can open the door -- this advice was provided by Nancy Stremple of the USDA FS Urban and Community Forestry Program:
1) Contact a National Forest in your state and ask for the Forest Supervisor.
2) When you contact the Forest you need to let them know that you heard about the information from the US Forest Service Urban Forestry network.
3) Outline what your organization does w/ regard to youth and the geographic area you work in. See if there is a connection / opportunity to design a program in cooperation with the Forest Supervisor that would help expose urban kids to nature. Reaching disadvantaged urban youth is a key priority for the program.
Another potential avenue is to work with your State Forestry agency, who can be a cooperator on the project and could possibly coordinate an application with the NFS.
About "More Kids in the Woods"
Want to help kids grow stronger, develop healthy social skills and succeed in their academic studies? The Forest Service "More Kids in the Woods" is a pilot challenge cost share program aimed at engaging engage children and youth in recreation activities and nature-based learning, thereby establishing meaningful and lasting connections with nature. An agency-wide call for proposals was issued on February 1, 2007 , with a due date of March 16, 2007. Project proposals must be submitted by a Forest Service office or field unit. Partner organizations wanting to participate in "More Kids in the Woods" should contact their nearest national forest, grassland or Forest Service office to submit a joint proposal. Projects need to engage non-federal partners with at least a 1:1 match. Matching contributions may be in the form of in-kind or cash.
The goal of "More Kids in the Woods" Challenge Cost Share pilot program is to engage children in recreation activities and nature-based learning, thereby establishing meaningful and lasting connections with nature. The selected projects will be announced at a special event with Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods - Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, on May 22, 2007, in Washington, DC.
The concept of "More Kids in the Woods" originated from a Forest Service team working to implement ideas voiced during the Forest Service Centennial in 2005. During the Centennial Congress, participants noted the value of conservation education and the power of recreation in forging connections to the land. They called on the Forest Service to enhance its youth programs in order to build a strong future generation of natural resource stewards and leaders.
There is growing evidence that today's children are gravitating away from active outdoor experiences and towards a virtual, sedentary indoor reality. This disconnect from nature has serious long-term implications for the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of children. The growing disconnect with nature also has serious ramifications for the future stewardship of our public lands and waters thereby jeopardizing our country's conservation legacy.
For more information, download these forms:
More Kids in the Woods RFP (PDF)
More Kids in the Woods Application (DOC)
Questions
If you have questions, Nancy Stremple can provide advice on how to best outreach to the National Forest System, which is a different part of the agency than you may have worked with in the past. Contact her at 202-205-1695.
