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Project Update - February 2005 |
National Science Foundation Application The last six weeks of 2004 were a maelstrom of writing activity. Our letter of inquiry to the National Science Foundation (NSF) was accepted and we were invited to apply for funding with the agency's Informal Science Education unit. Their guidelines are both specific and rigorous, which meant that we had to refine and thoroughly articulate this project. We believe we have submitted a very strong proposal that reflects unique and important ideas, as well as a very experienced and committed team. But regardless of the outcome, the process led to a greatly refined project that is reflected in our materials and any subsequent submission. Year of Restoration An outgrowth of our reflections for the NSF grant application on how to generate the greatest impact with this project, team members conceived the idea of a Year of Restoration targeting 2007. We have solicited two of or our most ardent supporting groups - the Society for Ecological Restoration and Save America's Estuaries - to take the lead on exploring the possibilities of this national and even international initiative. An initial phone conference this past January among numerous environmental and stewardship organizations generated many ambitious ideas and confirmed the far-reaching potential of just such an initiative. We will continue to report on this separate effort as it gathers momentum. Fundraising Update We are delighted to announce that HOE has been awarded two grants. The Santa Cruz County Community Foundation provided a $2500 grant that was then matched 3 to 1 by the David and Lucille Packard Foundation. These funds are being used to further development of the HOE project and to initiate production on a local story. We have also submitted a letter of inquiry to the Packard Foundation for significant production funds. Filming Progress We have actually begun to shoot one of the HOE stories. The Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed (STRAW) is a model place-based education program that connects students with their communities while it provides hands-on lessons on environmental restoration. We have filmed several STRAW restoration projects featuring kids replenishing riparian habitat and abating erosion by planting native vegetation on private farmland. Many local agencies, as well as the landowners, participate, making this a truly collaborative effort. The project began as the kids' effort to save the endangered freshwater shrimp and has evolved into so much more: erosion control, water pollution control, wildlife corridor creation, and of course, a supreme learning opportunity. Conferences It seems like we are becoming conference junkies. David attended the First National Ecosystem Restoration Conference in Orlando, Florida, in December 2004. It was a splendid opportunity to learn about restoration projects around the country and meet many of the people undertaking them. A lot of larger restoration projects undertaken by federal agencies like the Corps of Engineers, US Geological Survey, and NOAA were featured. February finds Kevin traveling to the Real Screen Conference in Washington, D.C., where he will meet with executives representing the leading broadcast outlets like PBS, Discovery, and National Geographic. This affords an important opportunity to forge relationships, learn what broadcasters are looking for, and share with them our progress on How On Earth. Next Steps
Current and next steps reflect our focus on funding to facilitate video production starting in late spring of this year. To that end we are generating a detailed business plan to share with potential funding sources, revising the project proposal and www.how-on-earth.org website to reflect our new and more complete articulation of the project, and generating a strategic development plan. The development plan will guide us in our funding-raising efforts as we approach foundations, organizations and individuals
who want to see environmental restoration get the attention and support it deserves. If you have funding source ideas, please don't hesitate to share them with us. Time is of the essence as spring approaches. |
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