Grants Available for Environmental Projects

I just received an email today regarding the TD Green Streets Program.  If there are any parents who would like to take the application process on for a project for the Home Learners, please let Shannon know.  We could do the project with all the students in the Spring.  I have copied and pasted the information sent to me below:

Le français suitGreetings!

Tree Canada and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation are encouragingcommunities nationwide to get innovative with their urban forests, with an offer of  matching grants up to $15,000 for qualifying projects.

Since its inception in 1994, Green Streets has awarded funding to more than 500 recipients, helping to change the landscape of communities across Canada. AsTree Canada’s flagship program,

TD Green Streets supports and encourages innovation in urban forestry. The program is open to all Canadian municipalities and Aboriginal communities, as well as business improvement associations (BIA) in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

The deadline to submit an application for a 2015 TD Green Streets grant is December 12, 2014. Recipients will be announced in March 2015. Grant recipients are selected by a panel of representatives from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Tree Canada, and regional urban forest practitioners. TD FEF has been the title sponsor of TD Green Streets since 2010.

 

Click here for more information, or to submit an electronic application for TD Green Streets for 2015. 

 

Should you have any questions, please contact Tree Canada at info@treecanada.ca or 613-567-5545

 

Destination Conservation

Calling all GHL grade 4’s and 5’s!  

We have been invited, once again, to join the Destination Conservation Program!  This year the theme is Waste.   Assessing the amount of waste generated at school is great motivation to establish or improve recycling programs, as well as looking at creative ways to reduce waste in the first place, by employing some of the ‘other Rs’ (reduce, reuse, repair, rethink…).  A new organics program is being piloted this year by VSB in a small number of schools across Vancouver.  Following a successful pilot, the scheme will be expanded throughout the district. 

This is an “added bonus” program for our grade 4 and 5’s,  being led by Shannon, so if your student is interested, please let Shannon know asap.  There will be three workshops to attend at the VSB on Broadway where our students will meet with other teachers and students from Vancouver to share ideas, learn, and have fun :  Wednesday, October 2nd (9-noon), Tuesday, January 14th (9-noon), and Tuesday, May 6th (3:30-5:30).

The students involved will gain leadership skills and work on conservation issues surrounding Waste throughout the school year, leading the student body in school or classroom initiatives.  

 

The Great Nature Project

great-natureNow here is a great way to learn about nature around us, and the earth’s biodiversity!

 National Geographic Kids is hosting  the world’s largest citizen science project. The Great Nature Project is an international attempt to record our world’s biodiversity, and your family can join right from your backyard. Find out how your kids can see their photos on a National Geographic website, and be a part of a worldwide event!

In my own backyard, I will be taking photos of the Painted Lady butterflies that are still visiting my lilac tree, the wonderful striped spiders that seem to have webs everywhere right now (what kind of spiders are they, anyhow?), the finches and chickadees that visit my feeders, the skunk family that lives out back – oh, and – of course! Sam and Sophie – the Wonderdogs that find themselves in so many of the adventures your children hear about every school year!

What a great way also  to fulfill curricular requirements in Science and Social Studies!!

Let’s get started!

Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

Join the Garibaldi Home Learners’ kick off to the school year with a hands-on learning activity!  We will be joining thousands of Canadians from coast to coast to coast taking part in the annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup event to remove shoreline litter from ponds, streams, rivers, lakes and oceans.

This year The Shoreline Cleanup has an ambitious goal to remove over 100,000 kg of harmful litter.

The Home Learners’ are signed up to clean the Mitchell Island Beaver Pond – at the west end of the Michell Island. This is the perfect location for learning and helping the environment with its high density of wildlife including a beaver dam, river otters, wild ducks nest sites, eagle nests, hawks, cormorants, harbour seals, salmon and sturgeon.

Our cleanup event will be on Thursday, September 22nd at 1:00 p.m.  Mark your calendars!

More information, directions, supplies and carpooling info will be disseminated closer to the event date.

 

What Represents Canada?

 

The Canadian Wildlife Federation has just launched their of 2011 Reflections of Nature Photo Contest.

Next year marks 50 years of conservation for the Canadian Wildlife Federation and they want to start celebrating early! Set your sights on moments and photos that represent Canada’s past, present or future; it could be an owl perched on a century old pine, a chipmunk storing food near an urban center and everything else in between that reminds you of how Canada once was, is or might be someday. Since the winning photos from the contest will be featured in a 10-page spread in their magazines in January 2012, they thought it would be a perfect way to kick things off.

They will be judging all high resolution photos that feature flora, fauna, landscape or urban wildlife.

Prizes include a year-long magazine subscription to Canadian Wildlife, CWF goodies from their online store,   Photo printers from HP, a poster of your photo courtesy of Photojack and so much more!

So start snapping today! You have until October 31, 2011 to capture and submit your winning shot!

Participation in this type of project is a great way to incorporate curriculum areas such as community, Canada, weather, science, social studies, fine arts, even language arts!  What a great way to get us all thinking about all the things that represent Canada – and the things we cherish as Canadians!  Enjoy!