Letha's Youth Outdoors Fund

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Letha's Youth Outdoors Fund

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Contact:

Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society (INPAWS)

P.O. Box 30317

Indianapolis, IN 46230-0317

E-mail: info@inpaws.org

Letha Queisser was a member of INPAWS and known as Indiana's Wildlflower Lady. Educated as a botanist, she introduced our own Ruth Ann Ingraham to Indiana Native Plants. When she died in 2007, her many friends honored her by giving memorial gifts to the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society. Contributions to the Letha Quisser Memorial Fund are gratefully accepted.

To make a donation, please contact INPAWS Treasurer Kathleen Hartman.

Apply for the Letha's Youth Outdoors Fund

Letha's Youth Outdoors Fund

Through the financial support of the above named fund (see sidebar), INPAWS has launched a program to connect school age children to the wonders of nature. This new venture is in harmony with the national “kids to nature” movement a’la Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods and the vernacular Nature-Deficit Disorder. The basic model is:

Provide transportation for student and youth groups who have no funds for field trips,
Have INPAWS members offer their knowledge and enthusiasm during the visits,
Promote youth initiated projects/activities that connect kids with nature.

This assistance program is intended to be available state-wide. Teachers/leaders may select nature sites suitable to their location and situation. An exemplary program is at the Marian College Ecolab in Indianapolis. Two-hour field trips include an hour of walk-around instruction with a second hour of student hands-on participation in a restoration activity, pulling garlic mustard, installing plant plugs, collecting seeds, etc.

Marian College faculty lead the hikes and instruct the students. INPAWS members support the field trip activity in several ways—pointing out plants, animals, birds, and insects during hikes, helping with a planting activity, assisting with an eradication effort, and generally sharing their enthusiasm and love of nature.

The Marian College Ecolab program is here outlined as an example of desirable field trip programming. You will be aware of other sites closer and more suitable to your situation.

An example of a youth initiated project is a Girl Scout Troop request for assistance to create a brochure about the invasive plant: garlic mustard. Following a troop activity to reclaim some natural woodlands, they became aware of widespread neighborhood infestations. Empowered by their experience and knowledge they wished to embark on a community awareness campaign. The girls authored their very own poem, “Beware the Garlic Mustard Plant!” With funding from this fund, they were able to create, print, and fold 600 copies to distribute in affected neighborhoods.

To apply for assistance please DOWNLOAD and complete the application “Letha’s Youth Outdoors Fund” and mail to the address at bottom of form. We cannot provide or arrange the transportation and request that school transportation systems, or in the case of other groups, local transit means be accessed and we will reimburse at cost. Funds are provided in arrears and upon approval of application. Arrangement for member volunteers will be coordinated by INPAWS and is planned for all selected locations.