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<title>Priority Notice: 2024 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative Grants Available</title>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Sarah<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Maine Department of Education <communications.doe@maine.gov>
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, December 15, 2023 7:38 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Ferguson, Sarah (DOE) <Sarah.Ferguson@maine.gov><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Priority Notice: 2024 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative Grants Available<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#505050">Priority Notice from the Maine Department of Education<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="line-height:150%"><strong><span style="font-size:15.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#505050">2024 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative Grants Available </span></strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#505050"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#505050">Dear Champions of Education, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#505050">The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is excited to launch the third year of the Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative, and grant applications
are available now. These grants support hands-on, engaging, interdisciplinary outdoor learning and career exploration opportunities that connect students with Maine’s amazing natural environments and landscapes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#505050">This funding can be used to facilitate outdoor learning programs before, during, or after school; on weekends; during school breaks and/or
over the summer. Applications will also be considered for schools and organizations that wish to use the funding to enhance or expand existing outdoor programming. Grants are expected to be awarded in the early spring and all programs must be completed by
September 1, 2024. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#505050">Maine school administrative units (SAUs), Career and Technical Education (CTE) Centers and Regions, Education in the Unorganized Territory
(EUT) schools, charter schools, and approved private schools are all eligible to apply.
<strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The 2024 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative Request for Applications (RFA, also known as grants) is
<a href="https://maine.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a582edd6473e477ef6307c769&id=c500fb5972&e=4bb1694fe4" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#336699;font-weight:normal">available here</span></a>.</span></strong> See RFA 202311223 for explicit information and definitions on eligibility and allowable uses of funding. Grant RFPs and RFAs | Division of Procurement Services (maine.gov).
See RFA 202311223 for explicit information and definitions on eligibility and allowable uses of funding. <strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Grant applications are due on January 12, 2024. </span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#505050">Grant awards will range from $25,000 to $999,999 with a total of $2,000,000 available. The 2024 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative grant
requires a marketing and outreach plan for reaching students from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as an emphasis on <a href="https://maine.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a582edd6473e477ef6307c769&id=ec661b0241&e=4bb1694fe4" target="_blank"><span style="color:#336699">Maine
DOE’s Whole Student </span></a>Approach. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#505050">This 2024 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative opportunity is funded entirely by the
<a href="https://maine.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a582edd6473e477ef6307c769&id=cd49eefd53&e=4bb1694fe4" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#336699">American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER)</span></a> fund. Learn more about the
<a href="https://maine.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a582edd6473e477ef6307c769&id=5da02323ad&e=4bb1694fe4" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#336699">Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative</span></a>. The DOE's Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative contact is
<a href="mailto:Natalie.Owens@Maine.gov">Natalie.Owens@Maine.gov</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:150%"><em><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#505050">Sent December 15, 2023</span></em><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#505050"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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