National Public Lands Day Tour and Grants 2008

Public Lands Day Toyota Tour 2008

Press Releases:

(August 27, 2008): Next Generation of Conservationists Receive "2008 National Public Lands Day Toyota Hybrid Tour" Grants: Volunteers at Six Sites Across the Middle Atlantic and Northeast Region were selected to receive grant awards for their participation in the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort for America's public lands

(July 11, 2008): Next Generation of Conservationists Receive "2008 National Public Lands Day Toyota Hybrid Tour" Grants: Seven sites in the Midwest/ Upper Rocky Mountain Region will receive grant awards for their participation in the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort for America's public lands

This September marks the launch of the fourth annual Public Lands Day Toyota Tour.

The Public Lands Day Tour visits several upcoming NPLD work sites in a hybrid Prius donated by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. and deliver $1,000.00 grants to assist in preparation for the upcoming events. The 2008 Tour will bring attention to NPLD's One Million Tree Planting Initiative that commemorates the 75th anniverary of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Stay up to date with Program Director Robb Hampton’s travels on his blog at http://publiclandstour.blogspot.com/

This year, the National Public Lands Day Tour will focus on the Northeast/Mid Atlantic/New England and Midwest/Upper Rocky Mountain regions of the United States.

Tour Grants

Press Release: July 11, 2008 -- Next Generation of Conservationists Receive
"2008 National Public Lands Day Toyota Hybrid Tour" Grants (Western Sites)

Press Release: August 27, 2008 -- Next Generation of Conservationists Receive
"2008 National Public Lands Day Toyota Hybrid Tour" Grants (Eastern Sites)


National Public Lands Day has selected the following seven sites in the Northeast/ Mid-Atlantic region to receive $1,000 grants:

• Allegany State Park, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, New York
  Allegany State Park Historical Society
• Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, USDA Forest Service, Vermont
  Moosalamoo Association
• Doubs Meadow Park, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Maryland
  Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Inc.
• Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife Service, West Virginia
  West Virginia Highlands Conservancy
• Leakin Park at Winans Meadown, Baltimore City Department of Recreation & Parks, Maryland
  Parks and People Foundation
• Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Maryland
  Friends of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
• Prince William Forest Park, a unit of the National Park Service, Virginia
  Friends of Prince William Forest Park
  *National Public Lands Day Signature Site*

National Public Lands Day has selected the following seven sites in the Midwest and Upper Rocky Mountain region to receive $1,000 grants as part of theNPLD Tour:

• Coralville Lake, US Army Corps, Iowa
  Mayor's Youth Empowerment Program (MYEP) 
• Emricson Park, Illinois
  The Land Conservancy of McHenry County, Project Quercus
• Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, Montana
  Montana Conservation Corps
• Milwaukee Parks and Public Spaces, Wisconsin
  Milwaukee Community Service Corps
• Monarch Crest, Salida Ranger District, Pike San Isabel National Forest, Colorado
  Continental Divide Trail Alliance
• Parks in Minneapolis, Minnesota
  Foundation for Minneapolis Parks
• Russ Garaman Park, Russ Garaman Pathway, Wyoming
  Friends of Pathways

Read More about the NPLD Tour 2008

Grant Information

**Deadline for Pre-Applications Has Now Passed for 2008**

National Public Lands Day is seeking grant applications for the 4th annual National Public Lands Day Tour sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. Grantees will be awarded $1,000.00 to assist with planning and materials for their upcoming National Public Lands Day project on September 27, 2008.

Grants will be delivered in person by National Public Lands Day Program Director, Robb Hampton, in a hybrid Prius donated to the National Environmental Education Foundation by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. This year, the National Public Lands Day Tour will focus on the Northeast/Mid Atlantic/New England and Midwest/Upper Rocky Mountain regions of the United States.

Sites in the following states are eligible to receive funding: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, or Colorado.

To learn about last year’s National Public Lands Day Tour, visit http://publiclandstour.blogspot.com and www.publiclandsday.org/tour.htm.

The theme for National Public Lands Day 2008 will focus on tree planting. Specifically, National Public Lands Day is spearheading an effort to commemorate the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) by planting one million trees between April 25th (National Arbor Day) and September 27th (National Public Lands Day).  The CCC has been credited for planting approximately 2 -3 billion trees between 1933 and 1942.

Download the MS Word 2008 application (.doc).

Grants Criteria

The National Environmental Education Foundation provides the following criteria as a general guide for applicants of the NPLD Tour Grants:

Criteria for selection of grantee organizations:

Number of years site has participated in National Public Lands Day;

• Partnerships established for 2008 volunteer event;
• Work projects correspond with NPLD 2008 theme of tree planting;
• Number of volunteers expected for 2008 volunteer event;
• Site is registered at www.publiclandsday.org;
• The organization receiving funds on behalf of the public land site is a 501(c)(3) non-profit;
• Sites in the following states are eligible to receive funding: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Colorado.

Priority will be given to projects that emphasize natural resource restoration, especially tree planting projects. Funds may be used for tools, equipment, materials and enhancements to public land sites. For example, funds may be used to purchase trees, native plants, seeds, work gloves, etc.

Grants do not fund:

• T-shirts, food, labor, or travel;
• Political lobbying, advocacy, litigation programs, or religious organizations;
• New staff positions or staff salaries beyond direct project costs, including general and administrative and indirect costs;
• Budget shortfalls in government agency programs; and
• Scholarships, fellowships, or grants to individuals.

Requirements

Funding is available to public land sites and “friends” groups. Funding for federal, state, county and other local public lands must be received through a related 501(c)(3) partner organization. This organization will receive and manage funds for the volunteer work project on a public land site.

Expected Outcomes and Timeline

Awarded sites are required to submit an evaluation by November 1, 2008 that will document site improvements. Evaluations must include a detailed description of the work accomplished by volunteers and how the funds were spent.

Timeline:

• June 27, 2008 – Pre-Application Due
• July 2008 – Awards announced
• July 7th – September 21st, 2008 – Tour Dates
• September 27, 2008 – National Public Lands Day
• November 1, 2008 – Evaluations due

Submission Information

Complete all sections of the pre-application form as requested. Submit pre-application and attachments by email, mail, or fax by June 23, 2008 to --

National Environmental Education Foundation
Attn: NPLD Tour Grants
4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 160
Washington, DC 20008

Fax: (202) 261-6464
npld@neefusa.org

For questions, contact Claudia Kessel at (202) 261-6478 or kessel@neefusa.org