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Gear Mini Grant Program

Having high quality gear, regularly accessible, is cited as a top barrier to getting young children out into nature consistently.

"A standard school supply list still does not include boots, rain gear and waterproof mittens, despite growing research that points to the importance of outdoor play for children’s development."

MaineECO is working to address barriers that keep the Nature Gap in place. In order to do so, we offer programs of assistance but more importantly we collect data from the early childhood community in Maine to advocate for their needs and sustainable change.

Gear Mini Grant Program

The MaineECO Gear Mini Grant for 2024 has now closed, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who applied. We were thrilled by the overwhelming response to this program! At MaineECO, alongside our partners, we deeply understand that access to high-quality outdoor gear is a critical factor in ensuring that children in Maine have regular and consistent time in nature. We are committed to continuing to support this effort and are actively organizing advocacy initiatives to address these barriers on multiple levels. In addition, we look forward to offering this grant opportunity next year to help even more kids experience the outdoors. Stay tuned for updates! We are celebrating our grant recipients in the New Year on our Facebook page.

MaineECO Outdoor Gear 101 Webinar

Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone can apply on behalf of a non-public licensed childcare setting (teacher, administrator, owner, parent). Licensed childcare settings may be center-based, family-based, Headstart, nursery school or license exempt. Childcare setting must be serving children infant through age 5. Preference will be given to high need settings; this can be shown by % of enrolled children participating in CCAP, CDS or other metrics that show high need of families but also by location given specific county or region. Everyone is still encouraged to apply in case there is more funding available.
  • Programs can request up to $1500, there is space to specify on the application how much you are requesting.
  • For childcare settings with multiple locations across a region, separate applications must be made for each physical site.
  • Applicants can apply year after year regardless of whether or not they have been awarded money in previous years.
  • Funds can be spent on outdoor gear for children and/or teachers. 
  • Gear can be appropriate for any season or weather type.
  • Funds can also be spent for gear care materials such as drying racks, boot dryers, repair kits, etc.
  • MaineECO will provide information about brands and wholesale accounts as well as technical assistance for ordering should you need it
  • Awardees will be required to attend an informational webinar about proper gear and gear care prior to receiving funds
  • Childcare settings that serve high needs families; this can be shown by % of enrolled children participating in CCAP, CDS services, immigrant families or other metrics that show high needs of families. There is space on the application for programs to demonstrate this high need in writing as well as identifying percentages or numbers of enrolled families receiving certain services.
  • Childcare settings in rural or high-need geographic areas. Particularly those in the Western Foothills, Rim Counties and inner city areas. Counties are Aroostook, Washington, PIscataquis, Oxford, Franklin, Somerset. Inner city areas are Portland, Lewiston/Auburn, Augusta, Bangor.
  • Applications that are going to use the gear to enhance or improve their children’s access to nature
  • Those who have not received funds in the past
  • Applications that demonstrate a childcare settings involvement in or collaboration with a nature-based organization (this could be attending a nature-based CoP, Inside Outside Meetings, participating in MaineECO events, partnerships with land trusts or Maine Audubon, etc.)
  • Grant applications are accepted from October 7th - October 28th, 2024.
  • Decisions are made by Nov. 8 with a grant awardee webinar taking place on November 14th.
  • Programs will receive funds by Nov. 22 and need to have ordered gear by December 31st.
  • The grant report is due to MaineECO by June 1, 2025
  • This will be a simple report done through an online form.
  • Questions will pertain to what was purchased and how it has been used.
  • Additional quantitative questions will pertain to the number of children using the gear, increased amount of time spent outdoors, time saved by teachers or parents, etc.
  • Photos and/or videos will be required, they do not need to include faces of children or any permission. Photos may be used for MaineECO marketing purposes



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