KidsGardening and the Klorane Botanical Foundation are partnering to offer the 2022 Budding Botanist Grant.

The Klorane Botanical Foundation is committed to supporting programs that teach respect for the environment and protect nature through the preservation of plant species and biodiversity. Designed to further their mission, The Budding Botanist Grant will help our youngest citizens learn about plants, explore their world and inspire them to take care of the life they discover in their local ecosystems.

Who is Eligible to Apply: Any public school, charter school or private school serving students in grades K to 12 in the United States that can demonstrate at least 40% of their student body would qualify for free or reduced price meals is eligible to apply. Applicants must be planning a new or expanding an existing school garden program designed to teach students about environmental sustainability and the importance of biodiversity. Previous Budding Botanist winners are not eligible.

Grant Award: In 2022, eighteen Budding Botanist Grants will be awarded. Each grant recipient will receive a check for $1000 to spend on materials to help bring garden-based learning opportunities to students. 

Grant Recipient Requirements: All funded programs must implement their proposed projects by the end of the 2021-2022 school year, including the creation of a short video documenting their project progress. This video, along with information about the garden programs of grant recipients will be shared digitally and through social media. Schools must distribute and collect media release forms from any student featured in videos or photos.

Grant recipients will also be required to complete an end of the year report, providing a minimum of 5-10 digital images of the garden program (with parental release forms for photos of youth as needed) by June of 2022 to document the impact of programming on students and the community.

*** Three Budding Botanist grant winners may potentially be asked to host a small garden celebration with the help of KidsGardening, Klorane, and the Klorane Botanical Foundation in either May or June of 2022.  Winners must be open to hosting a small number of guests from local media outlets at these events. They must also distribute and collect media release forms for all participating students and teachers.***