The Watershed Agricultural Council's Forestry Program offers grants (up to $3,000) to organize and implement watershed-and forestry-related field trips to the NYC water supply watersheds.
These grants are open to any organization, community group, professional association, 4th-12th grade classroom or other entity within NYC or the Catskill/Delaware Watershed regions.
During the 2012-2013 school year, 16 schools and community organizations planned and executed tours of the NYC Watersheds. These tours ranged from
professional development and curriculum
training events at
Frost Valley YMCA to overnight field trips at the
Ashokan Center. The Bus Tour Grant Program also supported trout releases at
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and one-day science explorations at
Clearpool Education Center. Each field trip is uniquely designed to meet the curriculum needs of each group.
If you are interested in planning a project to learn about NYC water and the working landscapes that protect that water quality every day, please visit the
Watershed Forestry Bus Tour Grant web page or contact
Jessica Olenych of Common Ground Educational Consulting at (845) 586-1600.
Applications are due July 15, 2013.
APPLICATION (Word format)
APPLICATION (PDF format)
TESTIMONIALS"
Without the Bus Tour Grant Program, my school would not be able to participate in the Operation Explore Program. The cost would be too much for many of the children's families. I live for this trip every year because I get personal satisfaction when I see the wonder and delight in the children's eyes as they experience nature firsthand. I hope that I am helping to create more responsible individuals and better citizens of our great world."
4th Grade Teacher, Queens, NY
"This opportunity started out with a Unit on the NYC Water System. During the roll out, it grew to include a visit to Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment plant. After that I knew we had to see the source of this magnificent system. The Bus Tour Grant was my kids "Golden Ticket" out of the Bronx and up to the Catskills to get up close to the watershed and the reservoir systems. They loved it and really responded with all they knew from our map study and classroom lessons. Now the water's continuing linear march - from the Catskills to their homes and out to the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment plant - knitted the system all together in a single pipeline. They gained a new respect for the resource of water and how vital it is to our city. This was a day they will never forget."
High School Teacher, Bronx, NY