Family Literacy Backpack Project Grant Opportunity

Buddy brings back a classic: The Family Literacy Backpack Project! Your adventure begins in a two-day mini-camp followed by your local development of family literacy backpacks to circulate from your school library or classroom. This is a great opportunity to “buddy up” with another classroom teacher or school librarian to develop fun and meaningful learning kits for home use.

$300 mini-grants available to camp participants! A total of twenty mini-grants will be made available to public school camp participants to support materials acquisition as well as miscellaneous development expenses. You must attend a camp and complete a short grant application to qualify.

Grant opportunity details

• Limited to one grant per teacher and two grants per public school.
• Grant funds may be used to purchase materials for family literacy backpacks.
• Up to $50 of each grant may be optionally used to reimburse travel or other expenses of camp participants to prepare backpacks.
• Grant application will be distributed at the camp and requires a signature from school or district administrator.
• Local in-kind or financial contributions toward Family Literacy Backpack development is desired, but not required, for grant award.
• Though technically a competitive grant program, the eligible pool will be limited to those who attend one of two summer camp sessions offered. Chances are very good to receive a mini-grant.

Not sure what a family literacy backpack is? Check out these weblinks to see some backpack topics, examples, and resources:

• Project Overview
• Backpack Examples
• Templates and Help Page

The Family Literacy Backpack Mini-Camps

Select which session best fits your schedule:
Session 1: June 10 & 11, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m
Session 2 : July 22 & 23, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cost:

$200 per participant: Includes training, supplies, starter backpack materials and lunch each day

Where:

The Family Literacy Backpack Mini-camp will be held at the Buddy Teaching and Learning Center located at 6920 Gatwick Drive, Suite 130, Indianapolis, IN 46241. (See registration site for directions.)

Description:

This is a make-it, take-it mini-camp. Plan to develop thematic backpacks that can be sent home with students to promote literacy and engaged family learning. At the camp you will: review work by previous Buddy backpack participants, develop goals and a management plan, begin to select resources, and create standards-based activities. Ideas, templates and materials to start developing your own thematic backpacks will be provided. You will leave with a great start on one or two backpacks and plans for more. University credit (1 hour) is available for this course for an additional fee.