There are quite a few avenues for the funding of outdoor classroom projects. The majority of grants are small ($500 or less), although a number of regional and national agencies offer substantial grants ($5,000 to $25,000+) to fund entire programs. Other grantors provide materials and supplies, rather than cash grants. In addition to the sources listed below, consider approaching local businesses, religious and civic organizations for grants, materials and/or volunteers.

American Greenways Program
1800 N. Kent St., Suite 1120
Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 525-6300

Greenway Grant for trails and ecological corridors ($500-2500)

Apple Corps, Inc.
250 Georgia Ave, S.E.
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 522-4662
Contact: Nancy Hamilton, Program Director for Grants to Teachers Program

Grants to Atlanta City Schools ($100-500)

Atlanta Dogwood Festival
c/o Dunwoody Nature Center
P.O. Box 88834
Dunwoody, Georgia 30356
(770) 394-3322
Contact: Deron Davis/Magic Garden Grants

Mini-grants to teachers in urban and suburban schools for projects that directly involve the use of school grounds for hands-on teaching experiences ($250-500)

Captain Planet Foundation
One CNN Center
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 827-4130
Contact: Greg Pope

Mini-grants to facilitate and support hands-on environmental projects for children and young adults (6-18) and empower them to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and communities. ($250-2,500)

Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Education and Public Outreach Program
100 Alabama Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 562-8327

Awards grants up to $25,000 to carry out environmental education projects

Fulton County Public Schools Foundation
768 Cleveland Ave, SW
Atlanta, GA 30315
(404) 763-6830
Contact: Susan Little

Grants to Fulton County public schools for classroom projects (up to $500)

Garden Clubs of Georgia
(706) 542-3631

NCSGC/Shell Oil Company/Environmental Incentive Program (up to $500)

Georgia Forestry Commission
5645 Riggins Mill Rd.
Dry Branch, GA 31020
(800)-GA-TREES or (404) 298-3935

The GFC administers an Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program Grant to stimulate, support, and create long-term and sustained Urban and Community Forestry Programs and forestry education programs throughout the state. Suggested proposal amounts: $500-10,000.

Georgia Department of Education

A number of state and federal grant programs administered through the Georgia Department of Education may be used for the development of outdoor classrooms:

Eisenhower Grants may be used to fund staff development programs relating to the outdoor classroom.

Contact: Dick Grover - (404) 656-3435

Innovation Grants are available to fund innovative educational programs.

Contact: Elaine Lunsford - (404) 656-3435

Learn and Serve America Grants are available for programs that involve students in community service activities while providing them with hands-on learning experiences.

Contact: Dick Grover - (404) 656-3435

Georgia Outdoor Classroom Grants
DNR Wildlife Resources Division
Outdoor Classroom Grants
2425 Marben Farm Road
Mansfield, GA 30255
(770) 784-3059
Contact: Patti Lanford, Project WILD

Two hundred grants ($500 each) are awarded each year (contingent upon continued funding) to support outdoor classroom projects in Georgia schools. Funds may be used to develop new projects or enhance existing ones, and must be matched by at least $100 from other sources.

National Environmental Education and Training Foundation
915 Fifteenth Street, NW
Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 628-8200

Special funding from the USDA Forest Service allows NEETF to support a small number of one-time matching grants for model environmental education and training projects that emphasize the interdependency of communities and ecosystems, both natural and built. ($10,000+)

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
1120 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 857-0162

Supports a range of conservation and environmental education projects.

National Gardening Association
180 Flynn Ave.
Burlington, VT 05401

Youth Garden Grants Program offers grants of materials and supplies worth $500

National Tree Trusts-Community Tree Planting Program
1120 6 St., NW, Suite 770
Washington D.C. 20005
Director 1-800-846-8733 ext. 813

Tree Planting Program as part of the Growing Together Program offers grants for trees and soil

Phillips Petroleum Company
16 D1 PB
Bartlesville, OK 74004
e-mail: osucee@aol.com

Phillips Environmental Partnerships awards grants to public and private primary and secondary schools, adult non-profit community organizations, and nature centers for programs meeting a local environmental need. ($500-5000)

Rockdale County Public Schools Foundation
954 N. Main St.
Conyers, GA 30207
(770) 922-7986
Contact: Dr. Robert Burns, President

Grants to Rockdale public schools for classroom projects (up to $500)

Sea World
Education Department
7007 Sea World Drive
Orlando, FL 32821
(407) 363-2389

Anheuser-Bush Theme Parks sponsor the"A Pledge and a Promise Environmental Awards" program, which awards prizes to schools that have created programs that demonstrate creativity, innovation, and positive environmental impact in their community. Three prizes (ranging from $2,500-12,500) are given in each grade category (k-5, 6-8, 9-12, college), with one grand prize ($20,000) going to the project that best meets the award criteria.