AGFC offers more than $768,000 in wildlife fines for education grants

LITTLE ROCK – The more than $768,000 collected from wildlife fines is available for Arkansas educators through the AGFC’s Conservation Education Grants Program, which enables educators to pay for many conservation oriented education programs and supplies by submitting a grant request to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Division of Rural Services. Applications are due by Oct. 4. AGFC Chief of Education Tabbi Kinion said the grants can enhance learning opportunities for youth, especially in rural areas, where education dollars are at a premium.

“Many of the special programs our Education Division promotes, such as Archery in the Schools, Project WILD, and Fishing in the Natural State, can be funded through these grants,” Kinion said. “But they can also be used to purchase equipment unique to conservation education and even help offset the costs of field trips to AGFC nature centers, education centers and other outdoors learning opportunities.”

Kinion said all AGFC nature and education centers are free to the public and through these education grants, educators can even find funds to help offset some travel expenses to get the kids to their learning destination. The AGFC does not spend any money collected through wildlife fines. Instead, that fine money stays in the county where it was collected to be used for these education grants.

“The fine money we get goes back into the schools in the county where the fine originated,” said Commission Chairman Ford Overton. “We don’t just put that in the general fund and use it to buy boats; it goes right back into the school system. I encourage putting that money toward getting hunter education back into the school system.”

Specific programs eligible for funding include, but are not limited to, the study of general fish and wildlife conservation issues, Project WILD Workshops, Arkansas National Archery in the Schools Program, Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program, Fishing in the Natural State, Arkansas Stream Team, School Yard Habitat Site Development, and specialized AGFC conservation education/ educator training workshops focused on the programs above. Funds also may be used by educators to take students on field trips to AGFC nature centers, conservation education centers and wildlife management areas.

More information on the program, a link to the application site and a county-by-county list of grant money is available at www.agfc.com/ conservation grants.