Grants, awards and freebies — Nov. 22, 2012

Potential for 30G: Lexus and Scholastic request entries for the second part of their sixth annual Lexus Eco Challenge, which encourages students to learn about the environment and take action to improve it. Winning teams for the second challenge, the Air/Climate Challenge, will receive $10,000 in scholarships and grants to be shared among the students, teacher and school. The top high school and middle school entries will compete in the final challenge against the best in the first segment, the Land/Water Challenge, which has already taken place. Final challenge qualifiers will receive $15,000 in grants and scholarships, and the two grand-prize-winning teams will each receive $30,000. Eligibility: middle and high school teams, composed of five to 10 students and a teacher advisor.

Deadline: Dec. 17. Contact: email: ecochallenge@scholastic.com; website: http://lexus.scholastic.com/challenges

How does your garden grow? Annie’s solicits applications for its Grants for Gardens program. The program provides funds to schools interested in starting and sustaining a school garden. K–12 schools can apply for grants of up to $1,500. Proposed programs must focus on connecting kids to real food.

Deadline: Dec. 15. Contact: Annie’s, 1610 Fifth St., Berkeley, CA 94710; phone: 510-558-7500; website: www.annies.com/school-gardens.

Library program award: The American Library Association is accepting applications for the 2013 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming. The award seeks to recognize, promote and support excellence in humanities programming in elementary and middle school libraries that serve children in grades K–8. Award consists of $4,000, a plaque and the promotion of the winner as a model program for other school libraries. Elementary and middle school (public or private) libraries, or any school library program in the U.S. that serves children in any combination of grades K–8 and is staffed by a state-certified librarian, can apply.

Deadline: Dec. 15. Contact: ALA Public Programs Office, 312-280-5053; email: publicprograms@ala.org; website: www.ala.org/programming/jaffarianaward.

Summer learning: The Fund for Teachers provides funds for direct grants to teachers to support summer learning opportunities of their own design. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: teachers who work with students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12, with a minimum of three years’ teaching experience, full-time, spending at least 50 percent of the time in the classroom at the time grants are approved and made.

Deadline: Jan. 31. Contact: www.fundforteachers.org/about-us.php

Encouraging environmental projects: The Captain Planet Foundation funds hands-on environmental projects to encourage youth around the world to work individually and collectively to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and communities. Maximum award: $2,500. Eligibility: U.S.-based schools and organizations with an
annual operating budget of less than $3 million.

Deadline: Feb. 28. Contact: http://captain planetfoundation.org

Work with scientists: The Earthwatch Institute offers educators fully funded fellowships for hands-on learning with leading scientists doing field research and conservation on one of more than 100 projects around the world. Maximum award: fully funded fellowship. Eligibility: elementary, middle, and high school educators and administrators of any discipline.

Deadline: two weeks after educator-interest application is submitted; ultimate deadline May 1. Contact: www.earthwatch.org/aboutus/education/edopp

Books for schools damaged by Hurricane Sandy: Was your school damaged or destroyed as a result of Hurricane Sandy? Scholastic wants to help by donating one million books to schools and libraries hardest hit by Sandy. Book grant requests are now being accepted.

Contact: www.scholastic.com/bookgrants. To access online resources visit www.scholastic.com/readeveryday/resources.htm.