​Wildlife Viewing Grant

EEA Wildlife Viewing Grants

Coming Fall 2022

​Overview 
The Environmental Education Alliance (EEA) will provide wildlife cameras to approximately 25 schools or non-profit nature centers across the state to help students investigate plant and animal species that frequent their schoolyards and neighborhoods, during and after school. Participating educators will commit to teaching science standards through outdoor learning activities, as well as in-person and remote wildlife watching. EEA will support educators by providing professional development on outdoor learning and by curating a collection of learning activities that align observation of real-life phenomena (wildlife watching) to the Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science, and to species and habitats referenced in Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan.
 
Goals
Wildlife cameras will be incorporated into learning activities that:

• Engage more students and educators in outdoor learning 
• Increase appreciation for and understanding of Georgia plants and wildlife
• Promote teaching of environmental science standards using local species and habitats instead of faraway examples
• Engage students in stewardship activities related to conservation of native plants, wildlife, and habitats
• Prepare students to become future decision-makers and caretakers of Georgia's natural resources

 
Project Timeline
Applications will be accepted and cameras distributed in fall 2022. Project reports and sample images will be submitted by grant recipients by the end of the fall semester.

Targeted Audience
The target audience for the grant is pre-K-12 students at school campuses or nature / environmental education centers in a variety of Georgia ecoregions.
 
Use of Wildlife Cameras
Wildlife cameras will allow students to observe real world phenomena, including the presence, behaviors, and interactions among wildlife species on campus, as part of learning activities correlated to the Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science. Students may also collect data for citizen science projects and/or implement student-designed initiatives to restore wildlife habitat. Each grantee will use Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan to identify their ecoregion, look for listed plant and animal species of interest, and report their findings.

Expected Results and Benefits
Among the anticipated project benefits are:

• Interest in local, native plant and animal species by teachers, student, and their families
• More relevance of curriculum and increased student engagement as a result of swapping faraway examples for local ones when studying habitats, endangered and invasive species, human impacts on the environment, climate change impacts on habitat and range, ecological roles and interactions, and other environmental science topics 
• Greater awareness that plant and animal species can only be conserved by protecting or restoring habitat
• Increased engagement of students outdoors, observing phenomena and participating in project-based learning
• Promotion of best practices in teaching outdoors
• Ongoing wildlife watching in future years
• Students who grow up interested in protecting Georgia habitats, who also possess the understanding, motivation and know-how to make responsible decisions to care for the state's resources

Grantee Commitment
Grantees will be required to maintain and secure the equipment, attend in-person or virtual training, conduct outdoor learning activities during fall 2022, prepare a report by the end of the semester, and share images.

Apply
Bookmark this page and stay tuned for application link.