Funding

Who funds this program?

Primary funding for the Bonanza Creek camp comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF), as part of a grant to the Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research Site (BNZ-LTER, PI Michelle Mack), and NASA Science Mission Directorate Science Activation, as a part of a grant to the Arctic and Earth SIGNs program (PI Elena Sparrow).

Additional  current support

• Association of Interior Native Educators covers salary support for some of the instructors and Alaska Native Elders at camp. 

• Denali National Park and Preserve covers our camping costs and provides rangers.

• The Doug Schamel Foundation supports food and travel costs for our Denali Science Adventure Camp.

• A National Science Foundation grant supported the pilot of our Bonanza Creek Leaders-in-Training program through 2024.

Past support

• Alaska EPSCoR provided funding for development of fire fuels learning curricula and an artist in residence for the camp.

• An NSF grant via Dr. Evan Kane (Michigan Technological University) provided funding for development of new elements.

• The Salcha - Delta Soil and Water Conservation District has provided instructional support.

•  Alaska Geographic provided funding and support, including instructors, for our 2019 Denali Science Adventure Camp. 

• The USDA Forest Service provided funding in 2019 through their Every Kid in  a Park program to expand our range of activities and provided equipment (such as raingear and rain boots) to campers. 

• The Alaska Songbird Institute provided free programs and instruction.  

Can you help support Fostering Science?

We need help maintaining and expanding our existing programs! Only our Bonanza Creek camp has long-term, sustainable funding. Our Denali camp and our BNZ -Leaders-in-Training programs will soon lose financial support. Many of our instructors volunteer most of their time.