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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

About The Grant:

Welcome to the Maine Early Childhood Outdoors (MaineECO) Gear Mini Grant Program! We are excited to offer this opportunity to support licensed childcare programs across Maine that serve children from 3 months to 5 years old. From October 7 through October 28, 2024, eligible programs can apply for grants up to $1,500 .....

Welcome to the Maine Early Childhood Outdoors (MaineECO) Gear Mini Grant Program! We are excited to offer this opportunity to support licensed childcare programs across Maine that serve children from 3 months to 5 years old. From October 7 through October 28, 2024, eligible programs can apply for grants up to $1,500 each to purchase outdoor gear for children and/or teachers. Purchase of any gear for any age or season is permitted, allowing you to tailor the equipment to the needs of your program. While all applications are welcome, we prioritize those that support culturally diverse communities, low socioeconomic status, and highly rural or urban areas. Additionally, specific grant funds are reserved for programs located in the rim counties of Maine and the Western Mountain Region, including Aroostook, Piscaquis, Washington, Oxford, Franklin, and Somerset Counties. For any questions about the application process, please contact us at meeco@maineaeyc.org. We look forward to helping you create enriching outdoor experiences for Maine’s youngest learners!

 

Awardees for the Maine Early Childhood Outdoors (MaineECO) Gear Mini Grant Program will be announced on November 4th, 2024, with funds delivered by November 22nd. To support the successful implementation of the grants, all awardees are required to attend a special webinar on November 14th, from 4:00-5:00pm. This session will provide valuable resources and information about outdoor gear, including insights on wholesale accounts and ordering, recommendations for durable brands suited for harsh weather, and tips on gear maintenance and care. Additionally, awardees will need to submit a brief report to MaineECO by June 1, 2025, detailing what was purchased, sharing photos of the gear in use, and demonstrating how it has contributed to enhancing outdoor learning experiences and achieving pedagogical goals.

Steps to Apply

Consider where your program is with outdoor time and nature-based learning in terms of time spent outdoors, barriers you are facing and your goals or next steps.

Consider the families you serve, their demographics, needs and desires for their children. 

Based on this reflection, what gear would you purchase for your program and why. What gear would have the greatest impact on meeting your goal.

Research the cost of that gear to determine if the award amount would cover all of it or just a partial amount. Decide if your program will provide supplementary funds to order all that you need, order a partial amount of what you need or decide to get gear for a different purpose.

 

Any individual associated with the childcare center can apply and they will serve as the primary contact however the check will need to be made out directly to a childcare program or owner. There is an area to list a back-up contact person for future communications.

Application opens at 8am on October 7th, 2024 and will close at 6:00pm on October 28th. It is not first come first serve but we do encourage applications to be submitted as early as possible.

Questions about the application or application process can be directed to meeco@maineaeyc.org

There is no paper application available, only online submissions at this time.

A PDF of the application questions can be found HERE for your preparation >> Download Here.

You can also apply for the grant here

Apply Now

If you are awarded a grant, one of the contacts from the application will be required to attend an informational webinar on gear, ordering and maintenance. Please mark your calendars now for November 14, 2024 from 4:00-5:00pm so if you are awarded, you will be able to attend. If there is a conflict, please try to arrange for someone who could attend and include them as an additional contact on your application.

MaineECO’s mini grant committee will inform all applicants, regardless of decision, by November 4, 2024

MaineECO Gear Mini Grant Program

This program provides up to $1,500 to purchase outdoor gear for children and/or teachers. The Outdoor Education Gear Grant Program aims to promote outdoor learning experiences for children and educators.

Apply now

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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