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EcoWeek is a program for 5th graders attending the Poudre School District in the Fort Collins area. Below is the description and goal of the program as stated on the Poudre School District website.
'The central goal of Eco-week is to have students appreciate their environment by observing the natural surroundings. Once the students are aware of their importance in the natural world, they will hopefully begin to do something about preserving and protecting it. Interdisciplinary skills will be emphasized through activities such as nature hikes, team-building projects, water ecology studies, observation skills, creative expression and journaling, geology, astronomy, life zone studies, and more.
This will be a time of challenge and personal growth for your child. We believe that Eco-week is a unique time for building self-confidence in this transitional year before middle school.'
https://sites.google.com/psdschools.org/ecoweek2021/home?authuser=0&pli=1
This program has been ongoing for 45 years.
The desired program, is a 3-day, 2-night overnight experience. However, schools with less resources can opt for a reduced one night experience. Schools with more significantly limited funding, opt for a same day field trip without the opportunity to spend one overnight at the Colorado State University Mountain Campus.
The Poudre School District ensures that all children will have an EcoWeek experience, but due to lack of funding, cannot provide an equitable experience for all children.
The children who receive only the day trip, miss out on many of the outdoor, educational and resiliency based activities. I believe that providing a student the designed program of at least one night at the mountain campus would allow that student to have a richer experience and better provide the intended benefits of EcoWeek.
Our club's goal is to provide a 'scholarship' to allow students from one school to improve the experience from a day trip to an overnight program. Our vision is to pioneer this program and attract additional benefactors in the future from local business and non profit organizations so that we can provide all 5th graders with at least a one night overnight experience instead of a less impactful day trip.
We would add a service component to the scholarship by having the Rotarians provide a 'send off' breakfast at the school for the departing 5th graders on the outbound day of their EcoWeek trip. This would allow Rotarians to interact with the children and hopefully be inspired to enlarge the program in future years. We would also ask for testimonials from the children and parents to encourage participation in our scholarship program in future years.
The difference between a same day and a one night, overnight trip is approximately $100 per student. Smaller schools have between 30 and 45 5th graders. We have at least one club member that has offered to provide additional contributions if we receive the district matching grant. With the matching grant we can sponsor a school either in the Spring or Fall of 2023.
Addendum to Project Description (added after the project was signed)
Working to identify the school to be the beneficiary of this grant.
240322 Update - Poudre School District was unable to utilize the grant as intended in the original application. I had many discussions with multiple individuals at PSD and they are unable to move a school from a day trip to an overnight for a variety of PSD specific reasons.
I have found an alternate beneficiary that would be able to use the funds.
Finally Home is a non-profit operating in Fort Collins that supports foster children and their families/care givers. Finally Home will use this grant to provide a new outdoor experience for foster children and their caregivers. If this inaugural trip is successful, they would like to build upon it to offer more children this unique opportunity in future years.
https://finallyhome.net/who-we-are/
After numerous discussions with Finally Home, we are proposing an outdoor experience for children they serve who otherwise may never have this type of opportunity. We feel this would provide enlightenment, respite and inspiration to children that Finally Home works with.
The proposed activity is below.
Finally Home would take a total of 40 participants (children and mentors ) to Sky Corral Ranch (https://skycorral.org/) on either Saturday, August 10th or 17th for a day in the mountains.
The Rotary Clun of Fort Collins would fund and serve breakfast for the participants on the morning of the journey.
• $1,200 Venue Rate for Private Use of our 105-acres, facilities and activities for a full day Saturday.
• $400 for optional Rock Wall activity with coaching and safety guide.
• $600 for lunch
• $800 for dinner
• $300 RBT (professional mental health support)
• $500 transportation
• $250 Breakfast
Grand Total: $4,050
Our other activities for the day include fishing and hiking. We would like to wrap up with roasting marshmallows right after dark and then head home.
Update 240608 Finally Home has booked Sky Corral Ranch for August 17, 2024.
We will be cooking breakfast for them prior to their departure
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