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Alcoa Grant to Benefit Teachers Near the Smokies

Saturday, July 23, 2011

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Alcoa Foundation has granted $15,000 to Friends of the Smokies to support teacher enrichment programs, including teacher workshops and opportunities for three teachers to spend a summer working as park rangers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“We all share an interest in improving student achievement in science and technology,” said Liz Dupree, Chief of Resource Education at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “By sharing our science and teaching resources with local teachers, we can reach thousands more students each year.”

Using the Alcoa Foundation grant funds, Friends of the Smokies will work with National Park Service staff to offer two science and technology workshops for a total of 60 teachers in the spring and summer of 2012. Grant funds will also pay for stipends and uniforms for three teachers to assist with the park’s resource education programs in the summer of 2012. Through both programs, teachers will learn about the park’s newest science programs and technology, efforts to encourage inquiry-based learning, and suggested lesson plans that address recent state-mandated curriculum changes.

Alcoa’s Tennessee Operations is the world’s largest producer of rolled aluminum can sheet for beverage cans and is based in Blount County, Tennessee. Alcoa employs more than 1,200 workers at its smelting and fabrication plants in Blount County, its hydropower facilities, and its downtown Knoxville office. Their Community Advisory Board assists Alcoa’s Tennessee Operations in prioritizing its philanthropic resources by representing the needs of the board’s constituents and communities.

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa Foundation supports conservation and education work worldwide through its local and regional contacts. Alcoa Foundation has granted more than $350,000 to Friends of the Smokies since 2001, making them one of the top ten all-time donors to the Friends organization.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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ATC awarded grant to support Appalachian Trail Communities

Monday, January 17, 2011

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The Virginia Environmental Endowment has awarded a $22,000 grant to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) to support the Appalachian Trail Community program in Virginia. During the 2011 granting period, the ATC plans to accept at least five new communities from Virginia into the growing network of designated trail-side communities.

Through this grant from the Virginia Environmental Endowment, the A.T. Communities program will expand its capacity by developing volunteer training, communication tools, program website and other resources to support local communities.

The Appalachian Trail Community program, managed by the ATC, provides tools and support to local communities that capitalize on the Trail as a community asset for tourism and outdoor recreation. The program is designed to provide an incentive for conservation of the Trail’s signature landscapes while giving communities the opportunity to grow rural economies that sustain rural heritage and quality of life. Launched in 2010, this program will ensure long-term stewardship and protection for the Appalachian Trail.

One quarter of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and its 280,000-acre land base traverse the Commonwealth of Virginia, protecting a 550-mile swath of the state’s natural resources, scenic beauty, and rich biodiversity. In addition, the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail (A.T.) provides an unforgettable outdoor experience to an estimated four million visitors each year, including many local residents who use the Trail for physical and spiritual renewal. In Virginia, the Trail slices through the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and Shenandoah National Park, offering ecological and economic benefits to 23 Virginia counties. With the millions that visit the Trail every year, as well as its international iconic status, it's no wonder that outfitters, restaurants and businesses catering to outdoor recreation call A.T. communities home.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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BRP receives $10,000 Grant for Oral Histories

Thursday, January 13, 2011

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Earlier this week the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation announced that it has received a $10,000 grant from the National Parks Foundation that will allow for the collection of a number of important oral histories.

The focus of this oral history project will be to record the first-hand accounts of the people who helped to build the parkway, including the Civilian Conservation Corps crews from the 1930’s and 1940’s. The project will also seek to conduct oral histories of the culturally diverse groups traditionally not associated with the parkway, including African-American communities, some of whom worked in racially segregated CCC camps, Cherokees who formerly lived in areas where the southern terminus of the parkway lies, and the descendants of Italian-American and Spanish-American stone masons brought from Europe to construct the intricate stone-work associated with the parkway’s bridges, walls, and overlooks.

For more information on the project you can click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Cumberland Trail Conference Receives $67,400 Grant

Saturday, June 5, 2010

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Representative Richard Floyd (R-Chattanooga) announced earlier in the week that the Cumberland Trail Conference has been selected to receive a grant for $67,400 from the Regional Trails Program (RTP). The funds will support the Big Soddy Bridge Project.

“These funds will assist with the Big Soddy Bridge Project, which is sorely needed in Hamilton County,” said Representative Floyd. “This is one piece of the funding puzzle that will make this project a reality, and I am pleased that state departments and agencies realize the urgency and necessity of this project.”

The grant recipients were selected through a scoring process, with careful consideration given to the projects that met the selection criteria and expressed the greatest recreation need. Funding for these grant awards comes from the Recreational Trails Program through the Federal Highway Administration and is administered by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Recreation Educational Services Division.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
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Help the Appalachian Trail Conservancy win $1,000,000

Friday, January 15, 2010

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You may recall from a posting a few weeks ago that the JP Morgan Chase Foundation was sponsoring a Facebook-based charity campaign in which voters directed where Chase grants would be awarded. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) was among 100 organizations to win a $25,000 grant during the first round of the Chase Community Giving campaign.

Those same 100 organizations are now automatically eligible for a chance to win a final $1-million grant in the next round of voting, which begins today.

In this next round, the ATC and the other winning organizations have submitted documents stating what difference $1 million would make in their work. One organization will win that amount, and five others will receive $100,000 each. A Chase advisory board will select other charities to share in another $1-million pool.

The program the ATC is seeking funds is for is called Mother's Nature Keepers.

HOW TO VOTE:

1) You must be a Facebook user (it's free!)

2) You have to be a fan of Chase Community Giving- click here and then click on the "Become a Fan" button at the top of the page.

3) To vote for the ATC click here - then click on VOTE once on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy "Big Idea" page. You will likely be prompted to allow Chase to access your information so they can keep track of the votes. Please "Allow" or your vote will not be tabulated.

Each voter gets 5 votes they can spread around, however, the ATC hopes that supporters will only vote for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Voting ends on January 22!

You can also find additional information on the ATC website.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.
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ATC Wins $25,000 in Chase Community Giveaway

Sunday, December 20, 2009

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The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) announced on Friday that they were among 100 organizations to win a $25,000 grant from the Chase Community Giving campaign.

You may recall from a posting a few weeks ago that the JP Morgan Chase Foundation was sponsoring a Facebook-based charity campaign in which voters directed where Chase grants would be awarded.

The 100 organizations winning a $25,000 grant in the first round of voting are now automatically eligible for a chance to win a final $1-million grant in the next round of voting.

In this next round, the ATC and the other winning organizations will submit documents stating what difference $1 million would make in their work, with Facebook users voting on those proposals starting on January 15. One organization will win that amount in February, and five others will receive $100,000 each. A Chase advisory board will select other charities to share in another $1-million pool.

As soon as information is provided on how and where to vote in this second round, I'll post it on this blog.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.
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$873,000 grant awarded to trail improvements

Friday, December 4, 2009

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This week the National Park Service announced that grants have been awarded for 17 trails projects across the National Park System.

Trails across the country will receive funding from the “Connect Trails to Park” grant program for infrastructure needs, promotions, interpretation and other needs, with award amounts totaling $873,000. The “Connect Trails to Park” grant program was established in 2008 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the National Trails System.

“The infrastructure improvements these grants provide translate into better experiences for trail and park visitors,” said National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis. “It’s a wonderful way to commemorate this anniversary decade of the National Trails System.”

The 17 funded projects restore or improve existing trails and trailhead connections, provide better wayside and interpretive services, encourage innovative educational services, support bridge and trailhead designs, and provide planning services for important trail gateways.

One of those projects includes $36,909 to develop the Twin Arches Connector Trail for the Twin Arches National Recreation Trail in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Some of the other trails receiving grant money include:

* The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park

* The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

* Various Appalachian Trail projects in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and in New Jersey

* Also, $100,000 has been awarded to various national forests to "build and support capacity in the USDA Forest Service for a Trail to Every Classroom" involving the Appalachian National Scenic Trail

For more information on the National Trails System, please click here.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.
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Update: Friends of the Smokies takes lead in vote

Sunday, October 11, 2009

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As of 7:30 Sunday evening, the Friends of the Smokies now leads in the "Tourism Cares" grant vote - by 10 votes!

When I first posted about this grant yesterday morning, Friends of the Smokies was in 4th place, with just 17% of the vote.

I'm not sure when the voting ends on this program, and since the Friends lead in the voting is quite slim, I will continue to urge anyone who hasn't voted yet to please click here an vote. It's just one click and you're done. No registration required. They don't even ask for your e-mail address.

This grant could mean $5,000 to $10,000 for historic preservation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Friends of the Smokies intends to use the grant money towards the restoration of 19 historic buildings in the Elkmont area.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store Quality gear and apparel from some of the best outdoor brands.
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Help Friends of the Smokies Win Grant Money

Saturday, October 10, 2009

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I just received an email from Holly Scott Burcham from the Friends of the Smokies organization. She's asking everyone to help them win a "Tourism Cares" grant, by simply casting an online vote.

This grant could mean $5,000 to $10,000 for historic preservation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Friends of the Smokies intends to use the grant money towards the restoration of 19 historic buildings in the Elkmont area.

As of Saturday morning, Friends of the Smokies has 17% of all votes, and are in fourth place. However, they're only 382 votes behind the leader. This is not an insurmountable lead!

It's just one click and you're done. No registration required. They don't even ask for your e-mail address. Please click here to vote.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store Quality gear and apparel from some of the best outdoor brands.
Read More