FAQDD — Destination Nature!
QC, Canada
Facilitating access to nature for young Quebecers
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|fromMinToMax
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateJanuary 01, 2021
- grant_single|closingDateDecember 31, 2023
grant_single|financingType
Other Support
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
grant_single|grantors
- Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs
- Fonds d'action Québécois pour le développement durable
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
Destination Nature! is a government initiative in Quebec administered by FAQDD aimed at providing young people aged 12 to 29 with easier and equitable access to nature. The program offers subsidized transportation for groups to engage in stimulating outdoor experiences and create a connection with nature. Eligible activities include outdoor physical activities, nature interpretation, and artistic projects in natural settings. The program covers transportation costs for trips to natural areas within 150 km and provides funding of up to $540 per vehicle for approved projects involving a minimum of 30 young participants.
grant_single_labels|projects
This grant is specifically targeted at organizations that have their headquarters in Quebec, Canada. Eligibility is limited to ensure regional support for Quebec's youth engagement with nature.
- Organizations headquartered within Quebec, Canada.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$1,350
Art workshop in nature for 45 young artists at Parc Marie-Victorin
$2,400
Organizing a hiking trip for 60 students to Mont-Tremblant National Park
$2,700
Camping and wildlife study trip for 75 youth to La Mauricie National Park
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the type of organization and its location, as well as its mission related to the education or personal development of the youth.
- The applicant must be one of the following types of organizations: secondary, collegiate, or university educational institutions; professional training centers; adult general education centers; school service centers and school boards; or non-profit organizations and cooperatives.
- The non-profit or cooperative must be governed by specific laws such as the Quebec Companies Act, Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, Quebec Cooperatives Act, or Canada Cooperatives Act.
- The organization must have its head office in Quebec.
- The organization must have been established for at least one year at the time of application.
- The primary mission of the organization must be related to environmental education, sustainable development, or the personal development of youth.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Eligible applicants for the "Destination nature!" grant include a specific range of educational and non-profit organizations. Qualified applicants must fall within one of the following categories:1. Educational institutions at the secondary, college, or university level in Quebec.2. Professional training centers operating in Quebec.3. Adult education centers that are part of the Quebec educational system.4. School service centers and school boards in Quebec.5. Non-profit organizations (OBNL) and cooperatives that meet specific legal and operational criteria, including being established for at least one year and having a mission related to environmental education, sustainable development, or personal development of youth. They must also have their headquarters in Quebec.Notably, certain entities are explicitly excluded from eligibility. These include:- For-profit enterprises.- Municipalities and municipalities regional counties.- All levels of government and their agencies (provincial and federal).- Organizations with missions or activities that are political, religious, partisan, or union-based.- Student associations.- Businesses and organizations listed as non-compliant with public contracts or under creditor protection.- Managers or entities responsible for the site(s) visited as part of the project.This initiative targets group projects aimed at nurturing a connection with nature, specifically focusing on transporting groups of 30 or more young people aged 12 to 29 to natural settings within Quebec. Projects involving fewer than 20 participants are not eligible.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
The Destination nature! grant has specific restrictions to ensure funds are allocated to eligible entities whose missions align with the program's goals. These exclusions cover various ineligible companies and organizational activities.
- For-profit companies.
- Municipalities and regional county municipalities.
- Provincial and federal governments, including their agencies.
- Organizations with political, partisan, religious, or unionist missions or activities.
- Student associations.
- Firms registered with restrictions under the Registraire des entreprises regarding public contracts.
- Companies under protection of the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
- Managers or responsible entities of sites to be visited.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
This grant supports projects that facilitate a connection between youth and nature through engaging and immersive natural experiences. It aims to provide opportunities for young individuals to actively participate and learn in natural settings.
- Organizing a physical activity that involves immersion in nature, such as hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing.
- Visiting natural environments to practice wildlife and flora interpretation.
- Conducting an artistic interpretation project in a natural setting, such as drawing or music.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The grant covers expenses related to transportation for taking groups of young people into natural settings.
- Rental costs for buses or other appropriate vehicles.
- Fuel or electricity expenses consumed by the vehicles used to transport the youth to nature.
grant_single_labels|criteria
Evaluation and selection criteria for this grant are as follows:
- The project must involve a group of at least 30 young individuals aged 12 to 29 years.
- The project should include a round trip from the applying organization to a natural setting within 150 km, allowing for activities that foster a connection with nature.
- The project should encompass one or more discovery or immersive activities in the natural environment, facilitating meaningful engagement with nature.
grant_single_labels|register
Here are the steps to submit an application for the "Destination Nature!" grant:
- Step 1: Assess Eligibility
- Verify that your organization falls under the eligible categories such as educational institutions, or nonprofit organizations focused on environmental education.
- Ensure that your project aligns with the goal of creating a contact between young people (aged 12-29) and nature.
- Step 2: Develop Project Plan
- Define a project that involves a natural site visit less than 150 km away, ensuring it meets the minimum group size requirements.
- Prepare a detailed description of activities planned for the visit, ensuring they focus on nature connection.
- Step 3: Application Submission
- Fill out the application form provided by FAQDD.
- Submit all required documents along with the completed form.
- Email any questions or additional materials to FAQDD at destination-nature@faqdd.qc.ca.
- Step 4: Await Decision
- Receive communication from FAQDD regarding the status of your application.
- Ensure all activities remain conditional upon FAQDD approval based on their verification process.
- Step 5: Post-Approval Activities
- Conduct the nature-based activity with the approved project plan.
- Keep records and receipts of any transportation costs as proof for reimbursement.
- Step 6: Financial Reimbursement
- Submit a claim for reimbursement through the provided claim form.
- Attach copies of invoices or receipts from the vehicle rental company to your claim.
- Ensure the claim is submitted only after the project has been authorized by FAQDD.
- Step 7: Receive Funds
- Once approved, the financial assistance will be transferred to your organization via bank transfer.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Terms and conditions
Applications may be submitted at any time up to December 31, 2023, and the deadline for completing the activity is March 15, 2024.
An organization is eligible for a maximum of $540 per vehicle. It is possible to rent more than one vehicle if the number of participants justifies it. In this case, the total available is set at a maximum of $2,700 per request, and the transportation capacity of the vehicles used must be optimized.
An organization may be eligible for financial assistance from the program more than once, if the applications concern different groups of young people. However, if necessary, the QFCDD reserves the right to limit the number of applications per organization, in order to achieve an equitable regional distribution.
The QFCDD reserves the right to:
- Reduce the amount of financial assistance, cancel or demand reimbursement of amounts paid in the event of non-compliance with the provisions of the Program or the conditions under which assistance was granted;
- Approve applications up to the limit of available budgets.
grant_single_labels|contact
destination-nature@faqdd.qc.ca
Apply to this program
Enhance Youth Engagement with Nature
Destination nature! offers a unique opportunity for Quebec-based organizations to secure funding for transporting youth groups to engage with and enjoy nature. The grant aims to promote environmental awareness and appreciation among young participants through immersive outdoor experiences.
Exploring the Potential of Destination Nature! in Cultivating Youth-Focused Outdoor Experiences
The "Destination nature!" initiative by the government of Quebec, managed by FAQDD, is designed to enhance accessibility to natural environments for youth between 12 to 29 years old. It focuses on fostering connections with the natural world by subsidizing transportation costs, enabling various groups to partake in activities that might otherwise be inaccessible. The program not only promotes physical engagement with natural landscapes but aims to ignite a passion for preservation and ecological responsibility among the youth.
By covering transport costs up to a certain limit, this initiative directly addresses barriers that prevent young people from experiencing nature, such as financial limitations of educational and non-profit organizations. The funding encourages visits to sites within 150 km of the organization’s location, aligning with the program’s goal to foster local ecological tourism while reducing travel-related emissions by keeping locations nearby and accessible.
Working within a budget of $830,000 spread over three years ending in March 2024, the grant supports numerous transportation requests, with a maximum limit per vehicular service. This constraint ensures that a sizable number of organizations can benefit from the fund, facilitating broader participation across the province. The program prioritizes projects that create a meaningful contact with nature, such as educational outings focusing on environmental studies, biology, and geography, or even artistic projects inspired by the natural environment.
Eligible organizations include secondary, college, and university-level educational institutions, along with adult education centers, and certain non-profit and cooperative entities recognized under specific legal frameworks. These organizations are required to submit proposals demonstrating how their planned activities align with the grant’s objectives of environmental education and personal development for youth. Proposals must include detailed plans on how groups of at least 30 youths will engage with nature, which are pivotal in making an impactful contribution towards fostering environmental consciousness among the younger demographics.
Moreover, this funding facilitates projects that accommodate everything from single-day excursions to multi-day immersions, underlining the program's flexible approach to designing outdoor educational experiences. However, the initiative explicitly excludes projects that primarily aim towards entertainment, spectator-centric sports events, or those rooted in highly developed environments which do not offer a raw and authentic experience of nature.
Overall, "Destination nature!" is a thoughtful investment in future generations, embedding a sense of appreciation for natural resources and ecosystems. It is not only an effort to ensure equitable access to nature for educational purposes but an enduring commitment to nurturing environmentally-conscious citizens. Through this program, Quebec aims to empower its youth, paving the way for sustainable growth and shared stewardship of the environment as the young engage, learn, and grow from their hands-on experiences in natural settings.
