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Briefly explain your proposed use of funds: <br /> As part of our mission to connect people and nature, Piedmont Wildlife Center offers <br /> afterschool programs, camps, and other educational programming for children ages <br /> 5-17 in Orange and Durham Counties. Through our outdoor programs, students <br /> connect with nature, learn about the local environment, hone awareness skills, and <br /> build a desire to protect our environment. They also develop valuable mental, <br /> emotional, and interpersonal skills, which in turn improve their academic <br /> performance and general well-being. Indeed, studies show that when children spend <br /> time outside, it improves their ability to learn, reduces stress and anxiety, makes <br /> students more engaged and interested, develops self-discipline, and improves <br /> leadership aptitude. <br /> (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six ways nature helps children learn <br /> We intend to use the proposed grant to support our educational "Earth keepers" <br /> program. This is an expanded afterschool program performed on-site at Carrboro <br /> Elementary, Orange Middle, Gravely Middle, and A. L. Stanback Middle School. If <br /> the full grant amount is awarded, we plan to replicate the successes of Carrboro <br /> Elementary with an elementary school in Orange County. <br /> All students enrolled in afterschool at Carrboro Elementary and Orange County <br /> middle schools will participate in the Earthkeepers Program free of charge once a <br /> week. In 2022-23, we ran programs in Orange County for 6 weeks in the fall and 9 <br /> weeks in the spring, and programs in Carrboro for 9 weeks in the spring plus a "Wild <br /> for a Day" all-day camp program on January 23. This gave us a great opportunity to <br /> connect with students who would not normally sign up for a program at Piedmont <br /> Wildlife Center, getting them outside and helping them learn how we are all <br /> connected and part of the natural world. We will continue this program in a similar <br /> timeframe for 2023-24. <br /> Funds from this grant will go to support staff salaries and supplies so we are able to <br /> operate the programs at each school for all students in afterschool free of charge. <br /> Program information Page 9 of 30 <br />