2023-515-E-DEAPR-Piedmont Wildlife Center-Outside Agency Funding

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Briefly explain your proposed use of funds: As part of our mission to connect people and nature, Piedmont Wildlife Center offers afterschool programs, camps, and other educational programming for children ages 5-17 in Orange and Durham Counties. Through our outdoor programs, students connect with nature, learn about the local environment, hone awareness skills, and build a desire to protect our environment. They also develop valuable mental, emotional, and interpersonal skills, which in turn improve their academic performance and general well-being. Indeed, studies show that when children spend time outside, it improves their ability to learn, reduces stress and anxiety, makes students more engaged and interested, develops self-discipline, and improves leadership aptitude. (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_ways_nature_helps_children_learn ). program. This is an expanded afterschool program performed on-site at Carrboro Elementary, Orange Middle, Gravely Middle, and A. L. Stanback Middle School. If the full grant amount is awarded, we plan to replicate the successes of Carrboro Elementary with an elementary school in Orange County. All students enrolled in afterschool at Carrboro Elementary and Orange County middle schools will participate in the Earthkeepers Program free of charge once a week. In 2022-23, we ran programs in Orange County for 6 weeks in the fall and 9 -day camp program on January 23. This gave us a great opportunity to connect with students who would not normally sign up for a program at Piedmont Wildlife Center, getting them outside and helping them learn how we are all connected and part of the natural world. We will continue this program in a similar timeframe for 2023-24. Funds from this grant will go to support staff salaries and supplies so we are able to operate the programs at each school for all students in afterschool free of charge. DocuSign Envelope ID: 59AE45FB-98E0-4087-8250-10D08A4AD3AD