Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden
Mini-Grant Information
The Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden (CSYSG) Mini-Grant Program was established by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to support the statewide training efforts of organizations that have participated in the Creating and Sustaining School Gardens Trainers’ Workshops. The purpose of the program is to increase the availability of comprehensive, affordable training for new school garden programs, with the goal of providing CSYSG content to over 450 people representing 100 schools across California.
Eligibility
Individuals and organizations that attended the CSYSG Trainers’ Workshops are eligible to apply for mini-grants. If more than 30 qualified applications are received, applications will be evaluated on the comprehensiveness of the training plan and the potential impact of the training, to be determined by the estimated number of workshop participants, the number of schools represented, and the geographic location of the training site.
Mini-Grant Guidelines
Mini-grant recipients are responsible for planning, promoting, offering and evaluating one or more CSYSG workshops for California schools. Specifically, mini-grant recipients are required to:
· Work in a team of 2 or more trainers to conduct at least six hours of training using the CSYSG workshop materials. The training may take place over multiple training sessions, but the total training time must equal at least six hours.
· Train at least 15 people. CSYSG training is recommended for school garden teams of 3-6 people, with 4 or more schools per workshop. We recommend school garden teams include at least one teacher. They can include parents, community volunteers, school administrators or other garden supporters.
· Offer free or low-cost training. Workshop registration fees may not exceed $40/person.
· List their workshop(s) on CSGN’s event calendar (www.csgn.org).
· Collect written workshop evaluations from participants.
· Submit an online final report survey that will include the workshop agenda, a roster of participants, and a summary of participant evaluations. Reports are due within 30 days after the training.
Funding
During the 2012-2013 school year, Life Lab will use CDFA funds to award up to 30 mini-grants of $550 each.
Mini-grant funds may be used for the following purposes:
· Workshop materials and supplies
· Publicity costs, such as printing and mailing
· Staff planning and workshop implementation time
· Staff travel expenses to and from the training location
· Beverages and snacks for workshop participants
Timeline
· Applications must be received by July 6, 2012.
· Mini-grant recipients will be notified by July 20, 2012.
· Training must take place before August 30, 2013.
· Funds will be awarded after training is complete. A class roster, agenda, and final report (summary of activities and feedback) are required for funds to be awarded.
Administration
Life Lab, the UC Davis Children’s Garden Program, and the Resource Conservation District of San Diego County will serve as regional grant management sites to oversee the funded trainings. Each mini-grant recipient will be contacted by staff from one of the above organizations. The regional grant management sites will provide consultation as needed on workshop content and logistics and collect final event reports.
Questions
For more information, visit www.lifelab.org/csysg-3t.
Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden
Mini-Grant Application Questions
NOTE: The following questions will be included in the Mini-Grant applications, which will be completed and submitted online at www.lifelab.org/csysg-3t
Application Information:
Contact Name:
Title:
Organization:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Web Address:
*Please note: Mini-grant checks will made payable to the individual or organization above and mailed to the address above, unless otherwise noted.
Which Trainers’ Workshop did you attend?
· Santa Cruz
· Hayward
· Davis
· Modesto
· San Diego
· Los Angeles
Training Plan
1. Who are the key people who will be involved in planning and delivering this training? Is this is a collaboration between multiple organizations? Please provide names and organizational affiliations.
2. What is your role in supporting school gardens?
· Non-profit Support Organization
· School or School District
· University or College Program
· UCCE or Master Gardener
· Community Gardening Organization
· Botanical Garden Program
· Network for a Healthy California
· City or County Department
3. Briefly describe what you do.
4. Describe your prior experience in garden-based education and/or delivering trainings to adults.
5. Who is the potential audience for your training?
6. How many people do you plan to train?
7. How many different schools will be represented?
8. When and where will your proposed training take place?
Date(s) and time(s): ______
Training site and city: ______
9. Please check to confirm that your training site includes:
□ Garden space for hands-on activities
□ Indoor meeting space
□ Accessible restrooms
□ Parking
10. Please describe other resources or materials that you plan to incorporate into your training.
11. Will you provide follow-up support to the schools that attend your CSYSG workshop? If so, please describe.
12. Do you plan to charge a registration fee? (Please note that $40/person is the maximum allowable fee under grant guidelines).
□ Yes. Amount: $______/person or $______/school
□ No.
13. Is there anything else you’d like us to consider about your funding request?
Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden Spring 2012 Section: CSYSC Trainers’ Information
Mini-Grant Information