Five Star And Urban Waters Restoration Grants Due Jan. 30, 2025

The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration grant program seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing modest financial assistance to diverse local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds and the species and habitats they support.

Projects include a variety of ecological improvements along with targeted community outreach, education and stewardship. Ecological improvements may include one or more of the following: wetland, riparian, forest and coastal habitat restoration; wildlife conservation, community tree canopy enhancement, wildlife habitat, urban agriculture and community gardens, wildlife and water quality monitoring and green infrastructure best management practices for managing run-off.

Visit the program’s website to learn more and apply.

Community Forest Program Grants Due Jan. 13, 2025

The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (Community Forest Program) of the Forest Service offers a unique opportunity for communities to acquire and conserve forests that provide public access and recreational opportunities, protect vital water supplies and wildlife habitat, serve as demonstration sites for private forest landowners and provide economic benefits from timber and non-timber products.

Program Basics

• Full fee title acquisition is required. Conservation easements are not eligible.
• Community Forests can be owned by local governments, tribal governments and qualified nonprofit entities.
• The program pays up to 50% of the project costs and requires a 50% non-federal match.
• Public access is required for Community Forest Program projects.
• Lands acquired through the program are actively managed in accordance with a community forest plan to provide community benefits.

Visit the program’s website for more information and application instructions.

Wheels To Woods Grants Due Dec. 31, 2024

Wheels to Woods is a field trip transportation grant program supported and administered by the Wisconsin Society of American Foresters. The grants are up to $350 per classroom to cover transportation costs to and from a forest or forestry industry field tour.

Any Wisconsin K-12 schoolteacher may apply, but underrepresented student populations will receive priority funding. The deadline to apply for forestry field trips that will take place February through September of 2025 is December 31, 2024.  Please help spread the word to local schools and teachers you may know.

Visit the program’s website for details on how to apply.