West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service Future Leaders of Watershed Service-Learning Project
The West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service, a state agency, is seeking proposals for Project FLOW -- Future Leaders of Watersheds -- a community-based Learn & Serve America Grant. The West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service strengths communities through service and volunteerism. The Governor appoints the Commission to administer the AmeriCorps program, serve as a clearinghouse for volunteers, provide assistance to nonprofits and develop leaders in West Virginia communities. The Commission identifies and mobilizes resources, promotes an ethic of service, and empowers communities to solve problems and improve the quality of life. The Commission received this Learn and Serve America grant in August of 2006. The goal of Project FLOW is to develop a generation of West Virginias who understand the nature and ecology of watersheds; who understand the consequences of their actions for the health of their watersheds in which they live; and who feel a personal responsibility to do their part in keeping their watershed healthy. This community-based grant has an additional goal to strengthen service-learning in K-12 schools in West Virginia. To reach that goal, grantees are required to establish some K-12 relationship. That does not necessarily require a formal partnership with a school or school board, and might be fulfilled by the active involvement of a local teacher. Funding is available for community-based non-profit organizations interested in developing service-learning activities around watershed health. Projects must bring together adult community members with youth, ages 5-17, to work on community-identified water-related issues, using service-learning as a strategy to develop knowledge and skills related to the local watershed. Approximately 10 grants are available for the funding year August 1, 2007 to July 31, 2008. Local groups that involve at least 25 youth volunteers serving 30 hours or more are eligible for a grant up to $15,000 per year; regional or statewide groups that involve 150 or more youth serving 30 hours or more may apply for up to $50,000 in grant funds.
