OKC Living Classroom Grant Program

The OKC Living Classroom Grant Program aims to combat the decline of monarch butterflies, which have seen an 80% population drop due to habitat loss. This initiative, led by the Oklahoma City Zoo and partners, provides funding and resources to K-12 schools in the Oklahoma City metro area to create gardens that include essential milkweed and nectar plants. Schools will receive professional development, financial support, and curriculum materials to foster environmental education and conservation efforts.

The monarch butterfly population has dropped by over 80 percent in the last 20 years. The main reason for this is habitat loss throughout the monarch’s migration and breeding range. Migrating monarchs funnel through Oklahoma in the spring and fall. Thus, creating and protecting monarch habitat in Oklahoma is critical for this iconic butterfly’s survival.
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, in partnership with Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma Monarch and Pollinator Collaborative, and National Wildlife Federation (NWF), seeks to increase habitat for monarchs and other pollinators by providing grants to Oklahoma City metro area schools to create monarch gardens. The gardens will include monarch host plants (milkweed) and nectar plants to provide a food source for monarchs along a vital part of their migration pathway.
Selected schools will receive the following:
Two professional development opportunities for teachers Awards of up to $1500 each to purchase garden suppliesNational Wildlife Federation’s Monarch Heroes CurriculumAssigned contact person from the Oklahoma Monarch and Pollinator Collaborative to provide guidance

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants: Public, private, and charter K-12 schools in the Oklahoma City metro area are eligible to apply. This includes schools in the following areas Oklahoma City, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Moore, Midwest City, Del City, Norman, Bethany, Piedmont, Deer Creek, Choctaw, and Warr Acres.To apply for this grant, schools must agree to do the following:Maintain and commit resources to the garden for at least 3 years.Dedicate a minimum of 100 square feet, of planted space (not including pathways or other non-plant features), on school grounds to create monarch habitat that also serves as an outdoor classroom.Include native milkweed and nectar plants that attract monarchs in the garden.Plant less than 25% of the garden in containers. Planting in the ground or in raised beds is strongly preferred to ensure the garden’s longevity.Prevent use of herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides on or near the garden.Provide a letter committing support for the garden, signed by the principal, and presented on school letterhead.Form a team of three teachers to plan, install and maintain the garden and to develop educational projects involving the garden.Send at least one teacher from the monarch garden team to Monarch Heroes curriculum training. A stipend of $100 will be paid to each teacher who attends the curriculum training, for a total of $200 per teacher for attending two training sessions. A maximum of three teachers from each school can attend each training.