Virginia Bluebird Society

The Virginia Bluebird Society (VBS) has established a fund to offer cash grants for youth projects that help promote the objectives of VBS. These projects must include building bluebird nest boxes to be donated to VBS for use on public lands or parks within the State of Virginia, as well as educating members of their community about bluebirds, other cavity nesting birds, and nest box trails. The grant amounts will depend on the number of nest boxes built, and the cost of materials at the time of their request. These grants are available to young people 13 to 18 years of age. Grants applications must be submitted to the VBS member listed below, and will be awarded on a first come first served basis while our fiscal year grant money lasts. All grant work must be completed in a timely fashion. The grant money will be awarded the scout/youth upon completion of the requirements, and the presentation of a prototype VBS box unit to our representative, or the VBS mentor working with the scout.

VBS Youth/Scout Program

Applicants must agree as part of their grant request to the following provisions:

Bluebird nest boxes must be constructed based on the design recommended by the VBS -- refer to the Nest Box & Guards page of the VBS website (a nest box, pole mounted with 2 predator controls

VBS will reimburse the applicant as much as half of the cost for each box built.

The applicant is responsible for raising the rest of the funds themselves.

Bluebird nest boxes are to be donated to the Virginia Bluebird Society for use on new or existing trails on public lands or parks in Virginia.

The applicant, as part of the project, must present a 15 to 30 minute program to an organization in their community. This presentation must be about the need for establishing and properly monitoring bluebird nest box trails, and the scout/youth’s experience in completing their project. VBS will assist the applicant in this presentation with presentation materials: a video tape program entitled “Bluebird Basics” by Don and Lillian Stokes; or the North Carolina video: “Bluebirds: Inside the Nest Box”.

Any scout in the state of Virginia is eligible for this grant. They will need a mentor who is a VBS member in their County. That VBS member will contact the VBS Representative listed below for guidance, assistance and information.

The funds agreed upon will be awarded when all boxes are completed and delivered. If there is a financial problem with having to wait until completion, special arrangements can be made thru the Representative below:

Carmen Bishop
703-764-9268
cjbish@aol.com
Vice President of VBS