Entry Cost & Funding

Cost to Enter the CR Program

Materials, Installation and Start-up Support: $1,500 (one-time cost)

We provide everything necessary to become a full participant in the LSU Coastal Roots Program.

  • Installation and Start-up Support: This covers staff time and travel costs for nursery installation and initial monthly site visits.
  • Materials: This covers irrigation system and timer, can yard materials (e.g. plant cells and trays), gravel, ground cloth, shade cloth, dog kennel with door, restoration materials (e.g. shovels, dibbles, mosquito spray) etc.

Checks should be made payable to LSU. Please note LSU Coastal Roots Start-Up Fund in the memo section on the check.

NOTE 1: Dr. Bush and Dr. Blanchard will no longer hook a nursery yard up to a faucet connection. Sadly, if schools cannot locate a water line into which a licensed plumber can install a "tee" and a proper shutoff valve, we will be unable to install the nursery. A tee into a water line must be installed and prior to setting the date for the installation day for the can yard. The cost for the installation of this water connection is the school's responsibility.

NOTE 2: Installation of the can yard & irrigation system cannot begin until (1) the water connection has been completed by the plumber, and (2) LSU receives the affiliation fee. Once the proper plumbing connection has been installed and affiliation fee has been received, materials will be ordered, delivered to the school and an installation date set. Ordering materials and scheduling the installation is dependent upon Dr. Bush's and Dr. Blanchard's teaching and research schedules and may take as long as 8 weeks.

Other Costs that Schools must pick up (not included in the Affiliation Fee):

Proper plumbing connection: variable

(see NOTE 1 above); one time charge. Schools are responsible for the proper installation of a "tee" and shutoff valve.

Restoration Trip Cost: about $300 yearly.

Schools are responsible for the bus rental, teacher substitute(s) on the day of the restoration trip, and student refreshments for the trip. Lagniappe would include items such as t-shirts. We have been fortunate to have donations to the LSU Coastal Roots Foundation Fund to support a reimbursement for school bus rental in the past, however, the ability to provide for this reimbursement is determined on a yearly basis.

Nursery Maintenance: variable.

Schools are responsible for costs of replacing broken and/or damaged materials connected with the nursery. This includes irrigation timers, broken irrigation stems, planting templates, lost/damaged cells and trays, etc. 

Ways to Fund Your CR Program

Quality Science and Math (QSM) Grant

Apply for a Quality Science and Math (QSM) Grant to enhance your math or science classroom! Available for public school teachers. Amount: up to $750 in materials. QSM Office at caincenter@lsu.edu or call (225) 578-6001. 
Deadline: Early September.

STEM Library Lab's Service-Learning Grants

The STEM Library Lab Service-Learning Program offers funds to support service-learning projects for K-12 schools in Louisiana and Mississippi. The Service-Learning Program is generously funded by the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation. Eligibility information can be found here. Louisiana Coastal Roots is now a "Ready-to-Go" service-learning project for schools wishing to install a new nursery. See Applications and Project Packets: Ready-to-Go Service Learning Projects and scroll down to Coastal Roots.

Deadline: End of April. Awarded in early September.

Restoration Trip Funding

Target Field Trip Grants 

Grants of up to $700 are provided to fund field trips for students. Open to an accredited K-12 public, private or charter schools in the United States. Approximately 1,600 grants will be awarded to educators across the country. For trips January - May/June.
Deadline: October 1. Notification by December 15.

 

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