CMS MAS Grant Recipients

Every year Mecklenburg Audubon distributes four $500 grants to elementary school teachers in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools to support their science curriculum. The funds are used for a variety of activities that promote the understanding and protection of birds and other wildlife such as: erecting bird houses, providing bird feeders and creating a wildlife habitat around their school with native plants. If you know of any teachers interested in receiving a grant, please share this link with them - Education Grants. The closing date for this year's grants is September 15th.

Recepients of the grants are required to provide us with a brief report of how they used the funds and how it impacted the students. Here is what last years teachers had to say:

Nations Ford Elementary (1st grade)

Dear Mecklenburg Audubon Society:

On behalf of the first-grade teachers and students at Nations Ford Elementary School, I want to thank you for the $500 grant that went towards our grade-level field trip to The Carolina Raptor Center. As you may know, 1st graders in CMS study caring for birds for the entire 2nd half of 1st grade. This field trip is our culminating experience each year and while we love it and the children look forward to it, the cost of this trip is somewhat prohibitive and is getting more expensive each year. This grant helped to substantially offset the cost and we could not be more grateful.

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This boy said he wanted to be an orinthologist! The students really loved touching the 'bio-facts" of real raptors.

The program for students is always interactive and fun, and our 1st graders enjoyed it immensely. Due to rain, we were not able to go to The Raptor Center on the day we were scheduled to attend. Instead, the education specialist brought her entire curriculum and two live birds to our school. She talked to the students about why raptors come to the Raptor Center and how we can work to protect them. Below are photographs of the presentation and written responses of student work afterwards. Again, thank you so much for awarding us this grant and we hope to carry on this tradition for our first graders for many years to come. Your support means so much to us!

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Pre- and Post Work demonstrating student learning.

Selwyn Elementary School (Grades K-5)

Thank you so much for this amazing program. The Audubon grant was used to expand hands-on environmental education opportunities for students by enhancing the school garden program. Grant funds were allocated to build additional raised garden beds, as well as to purchase high-quality soil, seeds, and compost to support healthy plant growth.

A key focus of the project was the creation of a pollinator garden, designed to attract and support bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, helping students understand the importance of biodiversity and ecosystems. Through the program, students actively participated in planting and growing their own seedlings, gaining practical experience in how plants develop from seed to maturity.

Lessons were integrated into the garden activities, teaching children about the parts of plants, plant adaptations, and the process of pollination. The project also emphasized sustainability and food education, allowing both students and staff to harvest crops and explore new vegetables. This hands-on approach fostered curiosity, responsibility, and a deeper understanding of where food comes from and how natural systems function.

Thank you again for supporting such a wonderful inquiry-based love for learning within Selwyn Elementary. 

Charlotte East Language Academy (2nd Grade)

This grant made such a meaningful difference for our second graders at Charlotte East Language Academy. We are a Title One school and are so incredibly grateful for all grants that support our students with consumable materials. All of us thank you so much for making this incredible experience possible!

With the support of the Audubon grant, we were able to give our students hands-on experience of planting and growing. Our second graders got their hands dirty planting seeds, caring for their plants, and watching them grow step by step. Through these experiences, they learned about plant parts, how plants survive, and how pollination works. All of our second graders thought the activities were fun and engaging. 

One of our favorite parts of creating our special pollinator garden was watching and observing the life cycle of pollinators! We were able to watch the butterflies grow right in our class. Once released, our plants to provide a special space for them to live and grow. Our students loved learning how bees, butterflies, and other helpful insects support our environment. 

Essential to our project was creating moments that helped build curiosity, responsibility, and a deeper appreciation for nature. Without the Audubon grant, our students would not have engaged with our curriculum or learning experience in a such an interactive way. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity in helping our children grow a love for learning that will last a lifetime! 

Thank you again for supporting such a special experience for our students at Charlotte East Language Academy. 

Villa Heights Elementary School (Grades K-5)

At Villa Heights Elementary, our Audubon Grant was used by our garden club, which met biweekly throughout the year. Because of this grant, the club was able to buy a variety of different plants and flowers, as well as seeds to plant in our garden. Over the years, our garden had become neglected and was in need of some TLC, which this grant allowed us to do. We purchased new soil, plants, and gardening equipment with the grant. The yield from our harvest was sent home to families providing them with fresh herbs and vegetables. The students learned about growing their own food, how to take care of a garden, and patience skills as they watched and waited for their efforts to bloom and produce. 

Thank you again for supporting our school and allowing our students to get hands-on experience with growing their own food and learning new skills this year!