The Environmental Education Grants Program welcomes applications for the development of innovative formal and non-formal environmental education projects that: 1) Address grant program priorities; 2) Provide opportunities to expand the public’s understanding of Pennsylvania’s environmental issues; and 3) Develop skills required to make informed decisions and take responsible action on behalf of the environment.
Donor Name: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
State: Pennsylvania
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 11/15/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The Environmental Education Grants Program, established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, mandates that five percent of all pollution fines and penalties collected annually by the Department of Environmental Protection be set aside for environmental education. Since its inception the Environmental Education Grants Program has provided more than $14 million to support environmental education throughout Pennsylvania.
Environmental Education Grant Program Priorities
Projects must address one or more program priorities: Water, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice.
- Water
- Education programs promoting effective ways to reduce non-point source and source water pollution to improve water quality.
- Climate Change
- Education projects that promote practical solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the negative impacts of climate change including floods, changes to groundwater, pests, disease, agricultural disruptions, and potential threats to human health.
- Environmental Justice
- Education programs designed to engage audiences (youth and/or adults) living and/or working within Environmental Justice (EJ) areas.
Environmental Education Grants Program Project Types
Non-formal and/or Formal Education types of projects may be delivered:
- Non-formal Environmental Education Projects
- Environmental education programs that are not integrated into formal, PreK-12 classes and/or Higher Education course curriculums.
- Non-formal projects can be designed to reach any audience including, but not limited to, youth, and may occur through a variety of venues such as afterschool activities, summer camps, 4-H programs, FFA, faith-based forums, and community workshops and special events.
- Formal Environmental Education Projects
- Environmental education programs implemented within the formal, PreK-12 school setting.
- Projects must relate to the State Academic Standards addressing Environment and Ecology (sunsets June 30, 2025), and/or Science and Technology (sunsets June 30, 2025) or the Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (STEELS) Standards.
- Projects will:
- Occur within the local context (i.e. schoolyard, neighborhood, town, or community);
- Be learner-driven, whereby students define a local issue and potential solution(s);
- Reflect student participation in one or more outdoor field experiences;
- Provide for student led Stewardship and/or Civic Action projects;
- Introduce students to potential career opportunities involving environmental sciences and related fields;
- Provide opportunities for teacher collaboration and professional development, including Act 48 credit, whenever possible;
- Promote diverse partnerships involving local municipalities, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, businesses, etc.; and
- Encourage the use of technology by utilizing and integrating social media, mobile applications, webtools, and/or other appropriate tools.
- Sustainable Schools: Coordinate programs to develop green, sustainable PreK-12 schools. Applying organizations will focus on reducing environmental impact, school health or outdoor classrooms, including energy efficiency and conservation, water quality and conservation, sustainable school transportation, waste and recycling, climate change, air quality, radon/improving indoor air quality, or integrated pest management.
- Schools may form and enhance an energy team with teachers, students, building facility managers, and administrators with the goal to reduce the school building’s energy use through PA Pathways to Green Schools. Schools may develop and implement school-centered energy conservation plans, including student-led energy audits. Schools may partner with colleges or universities, non-profit environmental education centers, STEM organizations, math and science collaborative, or other organizations.
- Curriculum Integration Projects: Articulate the Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology into the formal K-12 curriculum for the entire school district, private school, charter school, or cyber school. Schools may coordinate workshops to be attended by representatives from all schools and grade levels within the school district or private school. Any tentative workshop dates must be included in the application. Remember, the goal of this project is for permanent change.
- Curriculum Revision Projects: Applying schools will use their district’s fully aligned matrix to revise or write new lesson plans to integrate the Environment and Ecology Standards into the school’s curriculum. Assessment of the integration is required. The district’s fully aligned matrix must be submitted with the application.
- Encourage the use of technology by utilizing and integrating social media, mobile applications, web tools, and/or other appropriate tools.
- Schools may form and enhance an energy team with teachers, students, building facility managers, and administrators with the goal to reduce the school building’s energy use through PA Pathways to Green Schools. Schools may develop and implement school-centered energy conservation plans, including student-led energy audits. Schools may partner with colleges or universities, non-profit environmental education centers, STEM organizations, math and science collaborative, or other organizations.
Funding Information
Grant funding is provided on a reimbursement basis.
Funding is available for Non-formal education (projects outside of the formal, PreK-12 school/higher education setting) or Formal education (projects integrated into the formal, PreK-12 school/higher education curriculums). Two types of awards are available:
- Mini Grants of up to $5,000 may be awarded for local (school, county, municipality or other defined area) environmental education projects. Mini-grants are strongly encouraged, but not required, to form project partnerships and include a project match (Cash or In-Kind).
- General Grants: – General grants are offered at two funding levels:
- General Grants (Level I): From $5,001 up to $30,000 may be awarded for implementation of large-scale, regional and/or statewide environmental education projects.
- General Grants (Level II): From $30,001 to $65,000 may be awarded for non-formal environmental education programs designed to widely engage teachers and youth at the county, state and national levels. (Teachers and students from at least 60 Pennsylvania counties must directly participate in the project). Additionally, the project must demonstrate that at least 30% of program participants are community members of an Environmental Justice Area.
Grant Period
July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026.
Eligible Expenses
Eligible Grant expenses may include:
- People Costs (May not exceed 50% of grant funds) for wages and benefits, private consultants, schoolteacher stipends and substitute teacher pay.
- Travel Costs including mileage at the current GSA rate, transportation costs at a flat fee rate and lodging.
- Resource Costs such as educational materials and supplies and equipment/technology
- Other Costs such as photocopying, printing, postage, and facility rental.
Eligibility Criteria
- Public schools and school districts (PreK-12) (including Intermediate Units and Charter Schools)
- Incorporated private schools (under limited circumstances, private religious schools may be exempted from the incorporation requirement)
- Incorporated conservation and education organizations and institutions
- Universities and colleges
- County conservation districts
- Incorporated nonprofit organizations
- Businesses (must be registered to conduct business in Pennsylvania).
For more information, visit PDEP.
