The \u201cDing\u201d Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge, with J.N. \u201cDing\u201d Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel, has announced the return of its Conservation Education Teachers Grant Program. Up to $10,000 in grant awards are available to schools and individual teachers in Lee, Charlotte, and Collier counties this school year for conservation education-related projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Starting Aug. 1, teachers in the three-county area can apply for grants of $1,000 or more to fund new classroom science projects, promote stewardship, purchase teaching aids, acquire classroom materials, and conduct work projects in the community or beyond.<\/p>\n
DDWS invites applicants for the 2026-2027 school year to submit conservation-related proposals by Oct. 31, 2026. The approved proposals will be awarded by Dec. 31, 2026, for projects to be completed in May 2027.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur conservation grants are an important part of the society\u2019s mission to educate and create future conservation stewards from our young students of today,\u201d said Rebecca Clemens, DDWS Environmental Education Committee chair. \u201cWe began offering the grants in 2005 but suspended the program during the 2020 pandemic. Up to that time, we had awarded more than $95,000. The program provides teachers the opportunity to cultivate curiosity, critical thinking, and environmental stewardship among their students.\u201d<\/p>\n
Past granted projects include a hydroponic community garden at Neil Armstrong Elementary (Port Charlotte) in 2017, the creation of a bee and butterfly sanctuary at Cape Coral High in 2018, and a retention pond study at Lehigh Senior High (Lehigh Acres) in 2019.<\/p>\n
The teacher grants are funded by monies received from the DDWS Conservation Education Endowment Fund established by Jay \u201cDing\u201d Darling\u2019s grandson, the late Kip Koss. <\/p>\n
To make a tax-deductible donation in support of the fund, contact Keeley at\u00a0claire@dingdarlingsociety.org<\/a>. For further grant information and an application, visit\u00a0dingdarlingsociety.org\/teachergrants<\/a>\u00a0or contact Keeley.\u00a0<\/p>\n