Opportunity Information: Apply for FWSVENTURA 1102
Apply for FWSVENTURA 1102
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education environment other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Phenology Road Show MERITO Academy Program Field Visits" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.650 Research Grants (Generic).
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 9, 2011 and posted on Jun 9, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 23, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- This cooperative agreement will be with National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. We are posting a Notice of Intent to Award Discretionary Financial Assistance to a Single Source Without Competition.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Phenology Road Show MERITO Academy Program Field Visits grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number FWSVENTURA 1102) is a small, targeted education and environmental outreach award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It supports hands-on field visits during the 2011 to 2012 school year for roughly 600 students in grades 4 through 8. The core purpose is to connect young people with nature while building practical skills in collecting real scientific observations tied to climate change research, specifically through bird and plant phenology monitoring.
The project is designed around field-based learning at two Ventura County area sites: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Ormond Beach. Students are expected not just to learn concepts in the classroom, but to actively participate in monitoring activities that track seasonal biological events, such as when plants leaf out or flower and when birds appear, migrate, or breed. These observations feed into broader national citizen-science and research efforts that track species responses to climate variability and change, including platforms like Project BudBurst and eBird. In other words, the program is meant to give students an authentic role in data collection that contributes to larger datasets used by scientists and conservation organizations.
A central feature of the effort is who the program serves and how it is staffed. The student participants come from Title I schools in Ventura County, and the opportunity description emphasizes that the cohort is largely made up of minority students (about 85 percent) who are currently underrepresented in STEM fields. Instruction and mentorship are provided through a partnership model involving California State University Channel Islands students, The Nature Conservancy, staff from the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary MERITO Academy, and personnel from the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office. This structure blends near-peer mentoring (college students working with younger students) with professional guidance from conservation and federal resource staff, which can help students see clearer pathways into science and environmental careers.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary award offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the Fish and Wildlife Service anticipates being substantially involved in the project rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant. The funding amount is fixed: the estimated total funding is $5,000, and both the award ceiling and floor are listed at $5,000, with an expectation of a single award. No cost sharing or matching funds are required. The opportunity is categorized under education and environment, with an additional emphasis described as "Connecting People With Nature." The CFDA listing associated with it is 15.650 (Research Grants - Generic), reflecting the connection to data collection and broader research-related outcomes.
Eligibility is narrow and effectively single-source. While the eligible applicant type is described as nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), the notice states that the cooperative agreement will be made with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and that the posting is a Notice of Intent to Award Discretionary Financial Assistance to a Single Source Without Competition. In practical terms, this means the agency is signaling it plans to fund a specific partner rather than run an open competition among multiple applicants.
Key dates show this was a short window, time-limited posting: it was posted and created on June 9, 2011, with an original and current closing date of June 23, 2011, and it was archived on July 23, 2011. For additional details or help accessing the full announcement, the listed agency contact is Michael Glenn, Education and Outreach Specialist at the Fish and Wildlife Service (805-644-1766 x328, michaelglenn@fws.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Phenology Road Show MERITO Academy Program Field Visits grant opportunity?
It is a small, targeted education and environmental outreach funding opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. FWS) that supports hands-on student field visits focused on phenology monitoring tied to climate change research. The opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number FWSVENTURA 1102.
Which federal agency is offering this award?
The award is offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The core purpose is to connect young people with nature while building practical skills in collecting real scientific observations related to climate change research, specifically through bird and plant phenology monitoring.
What is phenology in the context of this project?
Within this project, phenology refers to tracking seasonal biological events, such as when plants leaf out or flower, and when birds appear, migrate, or breed. Students collect observations of these events as part of the monitoring activities.
How does this project relate to climate change research?
The program centers on collecting phenology observations that help track how species respond to climate variability and change. The student-generated observations are intended to contribute to broader datasets used in citizen-science and research efforts.
What kinds of student activities are supported?
The opportunity supports hands-on, field-based learning where students actively participate in monitoring activities. The description emphasizes that students do more than classroom learning by collecting real observations of plants and birds during field visits.
Where will the field visits take place?
The project is designed around field-based learning at two Ventura County area sites: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Ormond Beach.
What school year does the program cover?
The supported field visits are during the 2011 to 2012 school year.
How many students are expected to participate?
The project description indicates roughly 600 students are expected to participate.
What grades are included in the program?
The program targets students in grades 4 through 8.
Who are the intended student participants?
Student participants are from Title I schools in Ventura County. The description also notes the cohort is largely made up of minority students (about 85 percent) who are underrepresented in STEM fields.
How are student observations used after they are collected?
The collected observations are intended to feed into broader national citizen-science and research efforts that track species responses to climate variability and change, including platforms like Project BudBurst and eBird.
Which organizations and groups are involved in instruction and mentorship?
Instruction and mentorship are provided through a partnership model involving California State University Channel Islands students, The Nature Conservancy, staff from the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary MERITO Academy, and personnel from the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office.
What is meant by a partnership model or near-peer mentoring in this project?
The description highlights near-peer mentoring where college students (California State University Channel Islands students) work with younger students, alongside professional guidance from conservation partners and federal resource staff.
What type of award is this (grant, contract, etc.)?
This is a discretionary award offered as a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for agency involvement?
The opportunity states that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service anticipates being substantially involved in the project rather than issuing a hands-off grant.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The estimated total funding is $5,000.
Is there an award ceiling or floor?
Yes. Both the award ceiling and the award floor are listed at $5,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of a single award.
Are matching funds or cost sharing required?
No. The opportunity states that no cost sharing or matching funds are required.
What topic areas or categories does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under education and environment, with an additional emphasis described as "Connecting People With Nature."
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing associated with the opportunity is 15.650 (Research Grants - Generic).
Who is eligible to apply based on the notice?
The eligible applicant type is described as nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). However, the notice also states the cooperative agreement will be made with a specific organization as a single-source award.
Is this an open competitive funding opportunity?
No. The notice is described as a Notice of Intent to Award Discretionary Financial Assistance to a Single Source Without Competition, indicating the agency plans to fund a specific partner rather than run an open competition.
Which organization is identified as the single-source partner?
The notice states the cooperative agreement will be made with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
What are the key posting and closing dates?
The opportunity was posted and created on June 9, 2011, with an original and current closing date of June 23, 2011.
When was this opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on July 23, 2011.
Who is the agency contact for questions about this opportunity?
The listed agency contact is Michael Glenn, Education and Outreach Specialist at the Fish and Wildlife Service.
How can the agency contact be reached?
Michael Glenn can be reached at 805-644-1766 x328 or by email at michaelglenn@fws.gov.
What is the overall educational approach described for students?
The description emphasizes a blend of classroom learning and hands-on field participation, where students collect authentic observations that contribute to larger scientific and conservation datasets.
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