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Hills area groups get GF&P grants
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FarkOrganizations in Rapid City and Lead-Deadwood are among this year's recipients of the No child Left Inside grant program sponsored by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks.
The Cast for Success Fishing program sponsored by the Rapid City Club for Boys and Take the L.E.A.D. fishing program sponsored by the Lead-Deadwood School District each received grants from GF&P's No Child Left Inside program. The program is designed to encourage groups, organizations and individuals to take children outdoors to learn about nature.
"We received nearly 60 applications for this year's funding. That was a tremendous response, especially since this was the first year we've offered the program," said Chad Tussing, education services coordinator for the GFP Division of Wildlife. Applications were scored by a team of reviewers.
A total of $5,000 was allotted for the small grant program. Applicants requested amounts between $500 and $1,000 each.
"We're seeing rising obesity rates, increased inactivity and a growing disconnect from nature amongst kids and adults," Tussing said. "We're hoping this program -- and our other outdoor education efforts -- will be another tool to help break that cycle."
The projects funded with this year's grant cycle include:
-- Cast for Success Fishing Program (Rapid City Club for Boys, Inc.): This project will purchase fishing equipment to be used by kids at the club. The club will also create a pocket guide to fishing, which will be used by the club and potentially by other groups.
-- Take the L.E.A.D. (Lead-Deadwood School District): The L.E.A.D. (Lifetime Exercise Accelerates Development) project builds upon an existing program within the Lead-Deadwood School District. Using bikes they already have, the school district will create a geocaching course along the Mickelson Trail for the students. Students will learn about the resources of the area while getting physical exercise.
-- Animals of the Night (Friends of Maga Ta-Hohpi Waterfowl Production Area): This project will create a resource trunk about nocturnal animals for use in the Huron area, through the Huron Wetland Management District. The group will also conduct free outdoor educational events for children and families in the area.
-- A Buggerific Adventure (St. Thomas Elementary School and Dakota State University): This project will build a partnership that will provide outdoor education experiences for students at DSU and St. Thomas Elementary. Pre-service teachers at DSU will lead outdoor excursions to teach the younger students about insects.
-- Moving to the Outside of the Classroom Window (Woonsocket Public School): Using the funding from the NCLI grant, the school district will create resource kits for each elementary grade. The kits will contain lessons and other resources that teach about the outdoors and also address state content standards for each grade. All lessons will be designed to be taught on the school grounds, outside of the classroom.
-- Outdoor Toy Tubs (Family Child Care Providers of South Dakota): This project will fund resource kits for each of the Early Childhood Enrichment Programs in South Dakota. The kits will contain materials, lessons and other resources to teach the children about the outdoor resources in their areas.
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