Use local contacts to benefit your participants.

Many teachers and group leaders have worked together with local institutions or organizations to help broaden their students’ experiences. In addition, some have had success finding corporate sponsors who can donate time, materials, or money for the groups’ activities.

The various Citizen Science projects also have been successful public relations stories, resulting in news coverage in local newspapers and TV or radio programs.

Here are suggested ways of making good use of your local resources:

• Natural history and science museums often have displays about birds or archives of bird specimens that you may be able to tour. Museums may also consider giving discounted memberships to your participants.
• Bird/raptor rehabilitators and zoos give regular programs about birds, or may allow you to tour their facilities. Some of these organizations also allow you to "adopt" (sponsor) an animal, or work behind the scenes.
• Local bird clubs and Audubon societies may have members who are interested in presenting programs or leading your group on a bird walk. Or, you might offer to have your group do a presentation for one of their meetings!
• Art museums occasionally have exhibits on nature or bird art and programs about nature photography or drawing.
• Public libraries may have rare or unusual collections of bird art or bird identification guides.
• The Lab of Ornithology has citizen-science ambassadors in many regions who may be available to give a presentation on Lab projects.
• Hardware and feed stores, local corporations, and local foundations have, in many cases, made contributions from birdseed to binoculars, or even cash, to support these kinds of educational projects.
• News releases sent to local newspapers and news programs have been very successful for highlighting groups’ activities. Contact us if you would like a sample press release.

Please be sure to send us a copy of any news items that describe your bird-related or Citizen Science activities!

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Education Department

159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.

Ithaca, NY 14850

Funding Tips

• Local seed stores or other merchants: in some communities, Walmart, Home Depot, or other large discount stores are happy to donate torn bags of seed. Big chains usually throw out torn bags. You could ask them to call you and then have a volunteer pick up the seed. Let local merchants know that many families start to feed birds after their children are introduced to bird feeding at school. If the merchant helps out, be sure to let parents know about their participation.

• School PTA's or PTO's

• Local clubs: garden club, Kiwanis, Rotary, Audubon chapter or other bird club

• Local professionals: e.g. landscape architects, doctors, lawyers

• State and federal grants for habitat development

• Fundraiser – e.g. sell bird "decorations" for trees at holiday time, make feeders or birdhouses and sell them

• Let parents know what you’re doing by giving an introductory parents’ night

"Grant" Ideas

   • Volunteer to chair the school’s "grants" committee so that you know about funding opportunities as soon as they are announced by the sponsor.

   • Community grant applications: e.g. local humanities council, local education foundation

   • Generate a wish list and give it to your principal. If someone comes to the principal wanting to contribute some money for a worthy project, your wish list is in his office.

   • North American Association Environmental Educators (NAAEE) affiliates

   • National grants – Chevron Sure Grant, Toyota Tapestry Grant, Phillips Petroleum PEP Grant, Sea World/Busch Gardens, Eisenhower, Learn and Serve, U.S. Forestry Service, Ted Turner Foundation, Trout Unlimited, Environmental Protection Agency. You can usually find these by searching the web.

If you receive a grant, especially one from a local resource be sure to:

     • Have your students write a letter to the agency (store, club, etc.) thanking them.

     • Take pictures of your students using materials funded by the club, etc. and send copies to the agency

     • Write a letter to the editor or your local newspaper thanking the agency

     • Write a letter for your principal to send to the agency and give it to the principal to sign

     • Invite a local reporter (TV, radio, or newspaper) to visit your class to feature the grant and your students

When writing your grants:

    * Show how you will keep the program going after the grant.

    * Before writing your grant, call the funding source and ask them what they are looking for. They will usually tell you and you can then tailor your proposal to their needs.

Miscellaneous

    * In some states you can increase your probability of receiving a grant if the grant will show how you will network with teachers in nearby counties

    * Remember that retires can be great resources. Let people at local retirement communities know your wishes; they may well want to sponsor your class’s participation in one of Cornell Lab's Citizen Science projects or curricula.

Many of the ideas on this page were sent to us by teachers and other educators. Send us your favorite activity idea:

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Education Department re: Funding Tips

159 Sapsucker Woods Road

Ithaca, NY 14850

Email: baj3@cornell.edu