Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 marks the deadline to apply for grants up to $1,000 each, which “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) will award to Lee County Schools for conservation education-related projects that reflect the Society’s education mission.

Schools may use the grant money to purchase teaching aids, books, and classroom materials; fund new classroom science projects; take field trips; or conduct work projects in the community.

All Lee County Schools are invited to submit environmental education- or science-related unit proposals. The approved proposals will be awarded in December 2009 for projects to be completed by May 2010.

“With environmental education funding being cut throughout the school district, teachers and students are so grateful to receive our grants to fund special projects,” said Doris Hardy, DDWS Environmental Education chair.

For further information and an application, visit www.dingdarlingsociety.org, scroll down to Inside the Society, and click on Teacher Grants, or contact Gary Ogden at 472-1100 ext. 233 or Hardy at hardydd@comcast.net.

DDWS is a non-profit, friends-of-the-refuge organization that supports the Education Center, “Ding” Darling Days, and other educational and biological programs at the refuge.

To join DDWS and become a friend of the refuge, stop in at the Refuge Education Center or visit www.dingdarlingsociety.org.