Interested in creating or expanding your outdoor classrooms? Let DESG know!
Delaware Sea Grant is collecting information from Delaware public schools interested in creating or expanding their outdoor classroom. Schools will be selected based on demonstrated need and quality of their plans.
To submit a request for supplies for an outdoor classroom, complete this online form by October 11 at 5:00pm Eastern. Schools will be notified by November 8.
We anticipate assisting approximately 5-7 schools, with each school receiving no more than $2,500 in outdoor classroom supplies (some supply restrictions apply). We look to provide supplies to schools in all three Delaware counties. Delaware Sea Grant will purchase the supplies and have them delivered to the awarded schools.
Funding for these supplies comes from a COVID-19 response grant from the National Sea Grant Office to Delaware Sea Grant/University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean and Environment. Those schools receiving supplies from this project will have some reporting requirements. The project administrators will provide ample notice before any deadlines.
Those receiving supplies are also encouraged to join the Delaware Association for Environmental Education (DAEE) Outdoor Learning Network and present at a future DAEE annual conference. The DAEE website includes a wealth of information on creating outdoor learning spaces. Additional resources for guidance and best practices:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide
Green Schoolyards America and others' National Outdoor Learning Library
District Administration 6 key ingredients to creating an outdoor classroom
If you have any questions, concerns or issues with the form, please contact David Christopher (dmchrist@udel.edu).
This information is also available, along with a scoring rubric that will be used by the application reviewers, in a downloadable PDF.