Seeds for Education Grant Program Information

Dear Friend of Nature:

For years Wild Ones® members and chapters have worked with schools and nature centers to plant and maintain natural landscapes in these centers of learning. In 1996, the Wild Ones Board of Directors started the Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education (SFE) Fund to further foster such projects.

Wild Ones is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the use of natural landscaping with native plant species as an ecologically better alternative to traditional landscaping practices. Founded in the late 1970’s, Wild Ones has members in 43 states and 5 provinces of Canada and more than 40 chapters. Wild Ones publishes the Wild Ones Journal and its chapters sponsor seminars and field trips, and rescue native plants from destruction brought about by the development of roads and buildings. Lorrie Otto, the inspirational leader for Wild Ones, is widely acknowledged as the heart and soul of the Natural Landscape Movement. It is an honor to provide these awards in a program that carries her name.

Schools, nature centers and other non-profit and not-for-profit places of learning including houses of worship with a site available for this stewardship project may apply for an SFE grant annually.

Project goals should focus on the enhancement and development of an appreciation for nature using native plants. Projects must emphasize involvement of students and volunteers and increase the educational value of the site. Creativity in design is encouraged, but must show complete and thoughtful planning. The use of and teaching about native plants and the native plant community is mandatory, and they must be appropriate to the local ecoregion and the site conditions (soil, water, sunlight). For further information on selection of local ecotype, go to Wild Ones native landscaping webpages. The project leader should be knowledgeable and committed.

Examples of appropriate projects are:

• The design, establishment and maintenance of a native plant community such as prairie, woodland, wetland etc. in an educational setting such as an outdoor classroom.
• Developing and maintaining an interpretive trail landscaped with native plant communities.
• Developing a wetland area to study the effect of native vegetation on water quality improvement.
• Group student-teacher research projects aimed at documenting the presence, behaviors, needs and contributions of various forms of wildlife and the impact of native plant species.

Funds will be provided only for the purchase of native plants and seed. A project budget should show how monies are to be spent.

The Wild Ones website provides information and links to related resources from government agencies, universities, and environmental organizations. It also contains information on native plant and seeed nurseries/propagators. Wild Ones may also be reached at (877) FYI-WILD.

Information about the Wild Ones 7 minute video entitled "A Tapestry of Learning" is available from our online store. Wild Ones produced this video to be used as a promotional tool for the development of school nature areas. A manual for the video handout can be accessed here. Information on the Wild Ones yard sign can also be obtained from the online store.

Successful grant recipients will be required to acknowledge this funding source in project publicity and printed materials produced. Details will be provided in the award letter.

Successful grant recipients agree to submit a project report to Wild Ones within one year of the date of the award letter. Students should be involved with development of the report. The report should document the project, and may use scrapbooks, site plans, photographs, art work, etc. Details will be provided in the award letter.

Links to the grant application and to the one year follow-up report form are provided below. Please type and single space your application. Provide all of the information in the order listed. A plant and seed species list using both common and Latin names must be included. If non-native plants are used, explain why and justify. Include description of total ecology of the site design with emphasis on plant community. Out of order and incomplete answers to questions may disqualify application.

Submit FIVE copies with numbered letter-size attachment pages only. The SFE Judges will be reviewing black and white copies only.

• Right-click here to download the application form in Adobe® PDF format (93 KB)(legal size paper format).

• Right-click here to download the application form in Adobe® PDF format (143 KB)(letter size paper format).

• Right-click here to download the one-year project report form in Adobe® PDF format (53 KB)(letter size paper format).

• Right-click here to view a copy of the rating form used by the judges in rating each application in Adobe® PDF format (25 KB)(letter size paper format).

The Judges will evaluate the proposals and provide cash awards to as many projects as available funds allow based on the overall rating of all applications. Cash awards range from $100 to $500. Successful grants are eligible for partnership with SFE native plant nursery partners for discounts on seed, plants, etc. All Project Coordinators will be notified of the status of the awards. The annual calendar of events is as follows:

I thank you for your interest and if you have any questions, please write me at the address below.

Naturally yours,

Steve Maassen, SFE Director
Wild Ones Natural Landscapers
P. O. Box 1274
Appleton, WI 54912-1274