Educators interested in securing grant funding for classroom projects that focus on water quality, natural systems, water conservation, alternative water sources, flood protection or watersheds are encouraged to apply for a Splash! mini-grant through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
The goal of the mini-grant program is to promote hands-on water resources education that teaches students about their local watersheds and the water resources within them. Splash! mini-grants provide up to $5,000 per school on a reimbursement basis only and are available to public, private and home school teachers. Grant applications are due Sept. 12, 2008.
Last year the District awarded Splash! mini-grants to 137 educators, totaling more than $318,126. Past mini-grant projects include water quality monitoring of local lakes and rivers, the development of water-conserving gardens on school properties, and outreach campaigns designed to promote awareness of water-conserving practices.
In addition to mini-grant funding, the District offers educators free teacher training workshops, speakers for classroom presentations and free educational materials. The publications are correlated to Florida’s Sunshine State Standards and can also be ordered on the District’s web site at www.WaterMatters.org/publications/ .
Please log onto the District’s web site at WaterMatters.org/mini-grants to fill out the online application. Applicants may save the application, then go back and review or change portions before submitting it.
Questions about the Splash! mini-grant application process or the District’s other in-school educational materials can be answered by Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, at (800) 423-1476, ext. 4774.