Michael & Susan Dell Community Collaborative for Child Health

Michael & Susan Dell Community Collaborative for Child Health Nature U: Together Outside Mini-Grant Opportunity for Spring 2017! REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND MINI-GRANT APPLICATION

The Michael & Susan Dell Community Collaborative for Child Health is pleased to announce an opportunity for schools and youth-based organizations to apply for a Nature U: Together Outside mini-grant. This mini-grant opportunity is striving to highlight the many organizations and initiatives in central Texas like Let’s Move! that seek to connect youth and families with nature and public lands in their community. The Collaborative is offering 10-15 awards of $250-$500 to support new initiatives or current youth and families in nature programs, activities, or events.

The grants are sponsored by the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at The University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health in Austin with funding from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. Aims of the Nature U: Together Outside project include:

 Promoting fun outdoor activities and increase awareness of the natural world  Promoting the health benefits for children and youth associated with spending time in nature  Fostering current, and promoting new relationships among schools, governmental agencies, and community and faith-based organizations.  Stimulating change by disseminating new knowledge about successful initiatives and programs.  Creating opportunities for bringing nature into the classroom/school/organization through awareness campaigns, educational materials, community events, gardening, fishing, hikes, tree planting, etc.  Promoting positive participation, collaboration, and community among stakeholders (students, parents, school faculty, and other community leaders).  Sharing program implementation and results with the community.

Example projects may include but are not limited to:

 A Geocaching outing in a park to spark interest in the outdoors.  A hike led by a Park Ranger with classroom research on trees and their benefits.  A Photovoice project to document students’ challenges, benefits, and opportunities interacting with nature and being outside.  Designing a school Twitter or Snapchat campaign to encourage children to interact with nature.  Instituting an Instagram month of “Kids in Nature” to promote National Nature Month (March).  Creating a YouTube or Vine promoting the health benefits of being in nature.

www.childhealthcollaborative.com *A list of organizations providing outdoor activities and project ideas is available at: www. childhealthcollaborative.org

GUIDELINES

 Proposed projects must have significant student participation as well as an identified adult facilitator/leader.  Pre-K through 12 student clubs, afterschool programs, youth nonprofit organizations, school wellness teams, and other youth-based groups are encouraged to apply.  The project must be completed between January and May 2017.  Awardees are asked to document their design and implementation process with photos, videos, copies of any materials, and/or a short write-up of lessons learned and highlights of the project.  Awardees will be asked to participate in a May 2017 Summit sponsored by the Michael & Susan Dell Community Collaborative for Child Health to share their process, lessons learned, and outcomes.  Awardees are expected to showcase their completed projects with their school, community and beyond through photos, videos, social media or blog posts.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS This is a competitive award program targeting schools, preschool centers and non-profit 501(c)3 youth organizations located in the following counties: Travis, Hays, Williamson, and Bastrop.

APPLICATION PROCESS & KEY DATES

1. Application Format: Applicants must submit the attached application that includes:  Contact information: Name and address of organization and lead facilitator name and title  Description of project: How it relates to health, children, and nature. Use this link to view past examples of mini-grant projects. http://go.uth.edu/NourishUposters  The amount of money being requested ($250-$500) plus a brief budget showing expenses  Project team: List adult leaders with # and age of children and youth participating  Partnerships and Collaborations: Identify current or new partnerships providing support  Showcasing of project: How will project be shared and to whom? Social media, school posters, video, community, school assembly, etc.  Confirmation statement: Confirm that your project has the support of your organization’s leadership and that a representative will attend the May 2017 Summit to share highlights of project with other awardees.

2. Applications are due Tuesday, December 15, 2016

3. Applications should be mailed or emailed to: Sarah Bentley, Collaborative Secretary - Email: [email protected] Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, The University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health in Austin 1616 Guadalupe, Suite 6.300 Austin, Texas 78701

4. Notification of Award: Applicants will be notified of awards by January 15th, 2017. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Bentley at [email protected] (preferred) or (512) 391-2537.

www.childhealthcollaborative.com Michael & Susan Dell Community Collaborative for Child Health Nature U: Together Outside Mini-Grant Opportunity for Spring 2017 APPLICATION FORM

Instructions: Please fill out the information below and email or mail form to: Sarah Bentley, Collaborative Secretary, Graduate Assistant Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living The University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health in Austin 1616 Guadalupe, Suite 6.300 Austin, Texas 78701 EMAIL: [email protected] (512) 391-2537

Contact Information

Name and address of Organization / School / Afterschool Program applying for funds: ______

Location & address of where project will take place (if different from above): ______

School District (applicable to school-based applicants): ______

Name of Lead Contact Person for Project:______Position: ______

Email & Phone of Lead Contact Person: Email:______Phone: ______

Project Details

1. Description of Project: Please briefly describe the general type of project, how the project connects with nature and the positive benefits for youth and families. (e.g., How will info be shared with teachers? Will students have a leadership role? How will participants/the school or community be recognized?), the materials involved, and the timeline for implementing the project. (Suggested length: ½ page to 1 page max). Use this link to view past examples of mini-grant projects: http://go.uth.edu/NourishUposters

www.childhealthcollaborative.com 2. Target Audience, Project Team and Partnerships: Please state the grade levels/ages of the children/youths/students involved, estimated number of students/volunteers who will carry out project, and names of lead adult facilitator(s) and other community and/or school partners. (Suggested length: 1 paragraph or less).

3. Project Award Request and Description: Please indicate below the award amount requested ($250 or $500) and provide a brief description of how funds will be used and a simple budget (Suggested length: 1 paragraph or less). ☐$250 ☐$500

4. Showcasing/Dissemination of Project: Please describe how the Nature U: Together Outside project will be shared with the broader community (e.g., via an event, social media, promotional video, blog posts, posters, etc.). (Suggested length: 1 paragraph or less).

www.childhealthcollaborative.com 5. Confirmation Statement: Please confirm that the school leadership is in agreement with the proposed project and that a project representative can be available to participate in a May 2017 summit to share highlights of project with other awardees by marking the boxes below.

☐Yes, the principal or appropriate organizational leader where the project will take place is aware of and supports the proposed project.

☐Yes, a representative from our project team will be available to attend a May 2017 summit in Austin, Texas to share our experience with the project.

☐ Yes, I would like assistance and technical support from ‘The Collaborative’ with this project. Please contact me at______.

Thank you for your efforts to promote healthy children in nature in Central Texas!

About the Michael & Susan Community Collaborative for Child Health:

The Michael & Susan Dell Community Collaborative for Child Health (“the Collaborative”) aims to foster family, school and community partnerships for the promotion of children’s physical activity, healthy eating and overall health in Central Texas. The Collaborative is comprised of community leaders who represent a range of stakeholders, including community-based organizations, school districts, research institutions, the faith community, and parents. Since 2011, the Collaborative has granted funds to over 50 schools and organizations in Central Texas who have led efforts to advance child health in their communities.

www.childhealthcollaborative.com