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Since 2002, the ACA has partnered with L.L. Bean to sponsor the Club Fostered Stewardship (CFS) Program. The CFS Program provides funding to local and regional paddling clubs that undertake stewardship projects on waterways in their area. The purpose of the program is to encourage paddling clubs to take an active role in protecting and improving the nation's rivers, lakes and coastlines.

Many of the stewardship needs of our nation's waters are best addressed at the local and regional level. Paddling clubs are in an ideal position to lead these efforts. Club members are often willing to volunteer their time and assist with local stewardship projects. However, clubs often lack the funds needed to pay project expenses. As a result, they miss an opportunity to leverage dozens and sometimes hundreds of volunteer hours that could improve conditions on their favorite lakes and streams. 

That's why L.L. Bean and the ACA have teamed up to sponsor the CFS Program. CFS grants are available for projects that utilize volunteers in efforts to protect, maintain or restore recreational waterways, to provide for or improve public access, or to enhance safe navigation. Eligible projects include: cleaning up waterways, clearing in-stream safety hazards, maintaining access areas, erecting signs and controlling erosion, establishing and maintaining paddle trails, acquiring threatened access points, and providing sanitary facilities. Grant amounts range from $100-$1,000.

Past projects receiving CFS grants include:

• Removing heavy debris and trash from rivers and bays in numerous locations throughout the U.S.
• Access improvements in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
• Establishing water trails in Alabama, California, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
• Water quality monitoring in Virginia.
• Environmentally-sensitive woody debris removal in Illinois.
• Riparian buffer restoration and improvement in Wyoming and Virginia.
• Environmental education programs in Indiana, New York and Wisconsin.

To learn more about the projects that have been funded through the CFS program, read our CFS 2005-2008 Report (783 KB).

Interested clubs must submit a short application outlining their proposed project. ACA typically awards grants several times throughout the year based on the merits of the project and funds availability. Apply early to increase your chances of receiving funding. Use the links below to download the CFS grant guidelines and a grant application.

ACA also offers additional assistance to clubs for waterway stewardship projects. Clubs concerned about liability for injuries that occur during stewardship projects may be able to obtain liability insurance coverage through the ACA. Clubs may request additional assistance using the CFS Grant Application Form.

Clubs may email their applications as documents or scanned images to the ACA's Director of Stewardship & Public Policy. Or they may submit their applications by regular mail using the address on the application.

CFS Grant Application Packet (MS Word)

CFS Grant Application Packet (PDF)

Need a Mac Pages version of the application? Contact the ACA's Stewardship Director at the email link above.