Photo: “The Secret Butterfly Garden”, Seeds for Education awardee – Graham Elementary and Middle Schools, Columbus, OH
Since 1997, the Wild Ones Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education grant program has been connecting thousands of children with nature from preschool to high school. Garden projects need to be learner-based, hands-on and incorporate ecological concepts. Children must be involved in the planning of the project as well as the planting and maintenance.
This year, Wild Ones awarded a total of 10 grants to schools, churches and other nonprofits across the country. Look for the Seeds for Education application on wildones.org starting mid July if interested in a grant for your organization. Children K – 12 must be involved in the planning to the execution of the garden.
To date, 253 Wild Ones Seeds for Educations grants have funded native plants and seeds for hands-on outdoor learning sites for preschool-12th graders.