World Bird Sanctuary Educational Programming for Underserved Children

Grant Information
Categories	Education , Community , Environment
Location	United States
Cycle Year	2022

Organization Information
Organization Name (provided by applicant)	World Bird Sanctuary
Organization Name (provided by automatic EIN validation)	World bird sanctuary
EIN	43-1184675
Website	World Bird Sanctuary

Contact Information
Contact Name	Ms Dawn Griffard
Phone	2037706566
E-mail	dgriffard@worldbirdsanctuary.org
Address	125 Bald Eagle Ridge Road Valley park MO 63088

Additional Information
Used for	World Bird Sanctuary Education Department is seeking grants to help fund K-12 environmental programming for underserved communities, so that we may bring our programming and ambassador birds to communities that we are not currently reaching. We believe that nature and birds are for everyone, are that no child should be left behind.
Benefits	$10,000 will fund 20 education programs, featuring our live ambassador eagles, falcons, owls, vultures, parrots, ravens and hawks. Our birds inspire children to care about their natural environment and the animals within. The more we can expose children to nature and animals, the less fear they will harbor towards these things, and the more they might care about preserving the environment. A new generation that is concerned about the environment is critically important to the future of our planet.
Proposal Description	World Bird Sanctuary provides outreach education programs designed to give members of our community the tools they need to use the earth’s resources in a thoughtful and sustainable manner. Together with our trained avian ambassador birds, our naturalists give a variety of different education programs onsite at our sanctuary, and travel to schools, libraries, state parks, and other event spaces to spread the message of our mission: We protect and preserve birds and their habitats through Conservation, Rehabilitation, Education, and Advocacy. Programs include: Books & Buddies (story time with the birds), Fledge-Wings (For K,1 & 2), Feathers and Scales, All about Eagles, Creatures of Myth and Legend, Raptor Basics, All About Owls, Raptor Awareness (Raptor Basics but with flying birds), Wings for Seniors (Senior Citizens), and Scout Badge Programs. Program features include live birds and animals, free-flying birds, curriculum geared toward the age group, and environmental messaging. $10,000 directly sponsors 20 education programs for children in urban and rural underserved communities, whose school districts may not have funds available for educational field trips. Specific communities targeted by WBS include St. Louis City, Ferguson Florissant, Hazelwood, Jennings, and Riverview. These communities have a higher-than-average number of children receiving free lunches. World Bird Sanctuary currently holds and fulfills $40,000 in these grants this year, with a goal of $80,000, so that we may reach more children.