Environmental Enhancement Grant

The school environment provides an important first impression for students, parents, and community members. It sets the standard for expectations concerning respect for property and the importance of school. The Environmental Enhancement Grants seek to provide support for the improvement of the school environment through the purchase of materials that are not typically available through the school budget. These supplies may be used to improve the interior or the exterior of a school. Grant requests may not exceed $ 3,000 however funding from other sources may be used to augment the budget. Completing grants from a single site will not be considered, however, any site may submit multiple applications totaling no more than $3,000.

Download your application, including instructions, for the Environmental Enhancement Grant in PDF or Word format.

Who is eligible?
Groups and individuals affiliated with a Los Alamos Public school site, such as a PTO member, site council, parent, community member (example: a neighbor, someone from PEEC, the Master Gardeners, Fuller Lodge Art Center, local contractor, etc.), or member of the school staff are eligible to apply for the grant. The school principal does not need to be a part of the team, but is required to approve and sign the grant application before its submission. Los Alamos High School is not eligible for the Environmental Enhancement Grant at this time.

Project Examples:
Some project examples include: clean-up, landscaping, playground improvements, minor renovation/repair, rainwater gardens that capture run-off use it to grow native plants, native habitat for butterflies or other wildlife, curbside appeal, or semi-permanent artwork. Projects that can be funded with LAPS referendum money or are typically purchased through the school district will not be considered.

Criteria - Awards will be awarded based on the following criteria:

• Cost effectiveness and realistic budget
• Sustainability, maintainability, or long-term use of the area.
• Collaboration/ Partnerships/Community Involvement

2011 Environmental Enhancement Grant Winners

Aspen Elementary
Digital Sign Marquee
$3000

Aspen School is using the money from the Environmental Enhancement Grant to help purchase a new marquee. The marquee will be located at the center of the school at the primary entrance parking lot. The main use of the marquee will be to convey calendar information, volunteer opportunities, and special events.

Barranca Elementary
Basketball Legacy Project
$3000

The Basketball Legacy Project is a student initiated project to fix the current basketball court and add an additional court at Barranca Elementary. The students are not only leaving a legacy, but also learning about budgets, publicity, fundraising, volunteering and hard work. The grant money will be put towards the purchase of concrete and new basketball hoops.

Chamisa Elementary
Cheetah Outdoor Classroom
$3000

Chamisa Elementary is utilizing the Environmental Enhancement Grant to create an outdoor classroom for teachers and students, one with enough seating to gather by grade level. The idea is to provide an opportunity for teachers to take classes outside for instruction. The grant money will provide the materials to build an outdoor sitting area.

Mountain Elementary
Learning Landscapes
$3000

Learning Landscapes project will build 9 raised garden boxes on the lower playground at Mountain Elementary. Each Kindergarten, First, and Second grade classes will be in charge of a garden box. This project will not only provide beauty, but a great opportunity to learn about plants and ecology first hand. The grant money will provide the materials to build the boxes and the plants for this project.

Pinon Elementary
Pinon Preschool Playground Project
$2600

The Pinon Preschool Playground project will use the grant money to purchase a new Rubbermaid storage shed. This shed will be used to store tricycles for the preschoolers. These tricycles are a favorite past time for the preschoolers and now they will be safely secured!