Mini-Grants for Outdoor Learning (2020-2021 ) Short

Mini-Grants for Outdoor Learning Maine Environmental Education Association 2020-2021

The graph illustrates the number of projects in each category

Over the course of the 2020-21 school year, the Maine Environmental Education Association (MEEA) raised donations to distribute as small grants in two rounds to public schools statewide to advance outdoor learning efforts. We received over 180 applications from teachers and were able to distribute funding to a majority of them, prioritizing high needs districts. This grant program allowed teachers to apply for up to $1,500 to fund their outdoor learning projects, from projects like building outdoor classrooms, creating mud kitchens for young kids, outdoor learning curriculum development, to the purchasing foul-weather gear, these projects increased the health and well being of thousands of Maine youth!

Science Exploration, 28

Foul Weather Gear, 18 Birding, 7

Adaptive Gear, 1

Garden/Greenhouse, 20 Outdoor Recreation, 20 Curriculum and Professional Development, 6

Art Outdoors, 4

Outdoor Classroom Solutions, 55

$187,600 distributed to schools

Projects funded in all

16 counties

>10,000 students reached

159

applications funded

Highlighted Projects Lyseth Elementary School

At Lyseth Elementary School, art teacher Katie West put her funds to good use by purchasing a garden cart, 2 water quality testing kits, outdoor learning texts, and other supplies for learning in the spring.

“Students gained in their ability to know how to dress and take care of themselves in all sorts of weather,” explained Wes, “They became familiar with the school surroundings, and they transitioned from students who went outside to play to students who went outside to learn and explore.”

West shared, “We were outside in all weather and students were eager and joyful to make art in the environment. Our practice ranged from land art exploration, sketchbook Tuesdays, naturalist based observational drawing, Stick based sculptures, abstract expressionist exploding paint art. The students loved it. They felt energized and loved being physical as part of their art making practices.”

West was able to teach outside all year. She related that she felt as though it “opened the eyes of fellow teachers to that it is possible to integrate the outdoors into our curriculum. Every teacher was happy to have their students learning outside...

They were amazed at how focused and attentive the students were. They exclaimed, ‘This is amazing!’ Students were able to distinguish the similarities and differences between the woods at school and the spot we walked to across the street.”

2

W.G. Mallett School WG Mallett School kindergarten teachers used MEEA funding to purchase 100 rain suits for the kindergarten students for usage in the outdoor learning Woods Wednesdays program. Since Woods Wednesdays takes place fully outdoors, it is important for each student to have the proper attire to do so.

“I can not wait to use these rain suits next year.

Unfortunately, after they were ordered and arrived we were unable to truly use them this year. Instead, we had the kiddos put them on and enjoy the love of water from the school hose,” said teacher Hannah Goodenow.

There are six classes of kindergarteners, and not all students have proper rain gear at home.

“Nature and being outside is so important in a young child’s life but with our population it is hard for many of our families to have the right attire for their kiddos.

We would love to be able to do nature days no matter the weather, especially because currently we only see our groups 2 or 3 days a week. Providing our kiddos with the correct gear allows us to get outside more often,” said Goodenow.

“I am so thankful that now each and everyone of our kiddos will have a rain suit so no matter the weather we will be able to go out not only on woods Wednesdays but

Maine Environmental Education Association Mini-Grants for Outdoor Learning

Highlighted Projects Georgetown Central School Debra Thibodeau, guidance counselor at Georgetown Central School, used her funds to expand the school’s garden, make modifications to the school’s adventure area, and create new ways for students to engage in outdoor learning.

The garden has always been a part of health and guidance at GCS. Thibodeau emphasized that she ensures the curriculum offered in health in the garden and greenhouse ties into to the American School Counselor Association standards she follows as a guidance counselor. Thibodeau also uses that garden as an outdoor clinical site during her sessions with students. She added, “The kids literally beg to go out to the garden.”

“This year, more than ever, our garden has been a place for discovery for our Pre k - 2 classes,” Thibodeau explained.

“We hope to expand this next year,” she continued, “The teachers have been incorporating garden work in their curriculum and have helped to water seedlings, looked for bugs and worms and discovered how plants grow. It has been exciting.”

The garden shows much promise as Thibodeau shared, “Also, when our harvest is in, we share what we grow with kids and their families, the school kitchen and the community. We have many volunteers, including summer

Saint George School

At Saint George School (SGS), science, technology, engineering, arts, and math teacher (STEAM) Amy Palmer used her funds to purchase materials for three outdoor classroom areas and work with a local artist, Charles Duvall. As an artist, Duvall builds artistic fabric structures that function as outdoor classroom spaces. When Palmer hired him during the last trimester of the school year, Duvall taught the students how to design and build models of the structures. The 8th grade students at SGS worked with Duvall to build and sew the fabric structures.

“Students learned a lot in the process of designing them, and they have given them to the school to be used by younger students for years to come,” shared Palmer.

Palmer shared the following from a student who helped build the structures, “I am very thankful for this experience because not only did it teach me a lot about engineering and art, it also has allowed me to leave a permanent imprint on the school that I love so much.”

“These spaces are welcoming, artistic, and functional.

I brought one of my third grade classes here once [the structures] were finished, and the kids just laid back and looked up while listening.” Palmer explained, “The feel underneath is pretty magical.”

3

Help Support This Program Through these funds and over the course of the 2020-2021 school year, we witnessed the positive impact that outdoor learning can have on the health and overall well being of Maine students, especially during a pandemic.

In the light of the pandemic teachers were asked to be flexible and imaginative in their classrooms and to create more ways to get youth outside safely learning. The funds provided through this program allowed them to extend the impact of their efforts and directly reduced barriers to outdoor learning.

Through their applications and reports, we saw that teachers need funding to support their efforts to get the gear and training they need to lead outdoor learning in their schools. In addition to the funding many of these teachers also sought support for connecting with community partners, making the case for outdoor learning to their administration, and professional development opportunities. At MEEA one of our key missions is to provide holistic educator support to advance outdoor learning and we will continue to work with these educators in the future to support and grow their phenomenal work!

To help this program and our outdoor learning educator network to grow, we need your support, whether you are a community member, funder, or stakeholder. If you are interested in learning more about this incredible program please contact grants@meeassociation.org We are actively seeking donations for our 2021-22 School Year fund. To donate to this fund, visit our website or contact MEEA executive director Olivia Griset at olivia@meeassociation.

4

Maine Environmental Education Association Mini-Grants for Outdoor Learning