The family of Raymond A. Burke established this scholarship in his memory for the benefit of young men and women interested in pursuing careers in natural resources related fields. Mr. Burke was a land improvement contractor and farmer with very strong interests in the management of conservation and educating young people. He served for 40 years on the elected boards of the Polk County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District. From time to time, donations memorializing other individuals have been added to the Raymond A. Burke Scholarship Fund. The Upper Big Blue NRD administers two scholarships awarded annually in the amount of $2,000 each. 

You can complete the application online or download and complete the application then send it to the office.

Not sure if you live in the Upper Big Blue NRD? Use the Google Earth zip file below for a detailed map.

The purpose of ECAP is to create, develop, or enhance natural resources related educational capital projects that create experiential learning environments and opportunities for District citizens.

Grant applications are due May 1 of each year. Awardees will be notified in June.
 
 
Qualifications  
To qualify for the Educational Capital Fund Program (ECAP) educational/conservation projects must be physically located, constructed, and maintained within the Upper Big Blue NRD boundary.  These educational capital projects are generally constructed on school property, however can be located elsewhere in the NRD boundary if there is a more suitable eco-system which again is determined on a case-by-case basis for funding determination by the board of directors.
 
This fund is for capital items only, deemed to have educational/conservation value, and determined worthy of funding on a case-by-case basis by Upper Big Blue NRD.  (This is not a scholarship fund for individual/group of students).    
 
 
Examples
Examples of such projects include, but are not limited to greenhouses; commercial and botanical gardens/vegetative learning plots; beekeeping/honey production equipment; rain/flood/dam/erosion/wind simulators; interactive and hands-on exhibits; educational learning displays/pods; digital/electronic equipment/devices; and research/demonstration equipment, etc.
 
 
Funding Parametric
If the total project cost is $1,000 or less, then the cost-share may be 100% of the actual cost.  If the total project cost is greater than $1,000, then the cost-share may be $1,000 + 5% of the total cost not to exceed $10,000 (refer to funding scale on page 5).
 
 
Funds Available to Cooperators
Maximum Payment from NRD Funds:  $10,000.00 (labor costs excluded).
Minimum Payment from NRD Funds:   $100.00 (labor costs excluded).
State Cost-Share:  None.
Federal Cost-Share:  None.

Online Application 

Need to find a professional, courteous, and knowledgeable speaker who can address some of the most current and pressing issues concerning Nebraska’s natural resources? Choosing the right speaker for your next board meeting, strategic planning session, business conference, professional association meeting or in-house educational workshop could be one of the most important business decisions you make this year. A knowledgeable, seasoned speaker will inform, engage and provide working knowledge for your people to use in their decision making. From the halls of Nebraska’s State Legislature to the cab of a harvesting combine, the Upper Big Blue NRD staff have interacted with local, state and federal folks to promote and protect our state’s natural resources. And now you can take advantage of this wealth of knowledge with the NRD SPEAKERS BUREAU. Collectively, our featured speakers have over 160 years of experience in the natural resources field and possess a vast historical perspective of Nebraska’s past and present...the majority of our speakers are also responsible for having created some of this history. 

Call Chrystal Houston, Public Relations Manager, at (402) 362-6601, to find a solution for your speaker needs.