Bay Backpack

Shadia Fayne Wood, Brower Youth Awards winner '04, presents Jacob Glass with his award. Image: Earth Island Institute

Finding funding to support environmental education can be a real challenge and identifying applicable grants can be a hassle. To help you kick-start the process of getting your classroom project off the ground, we here at Bay Backpack have identified some great grant opportunities that are about to fly by. Some of these grants are not directly related to environmental or Chesapeake Bay education, but all could be used to support it. Be sure to note the submission deadlines, and good luck with your applications!

BGE Green Grants

BGE Green Grants of between $500-$10,000 are now being offered to local communities within the BGE service area.  Applicant’s must be a 501c3 non-profit with a Board of Directors, and will be considered for new and existing programs that fall within the Environmental Focus Areas (conservation, education, energy efficiency, pollution prevention and community activism) as well as requests for funding that clearly demonstrates improvement in environmental efforts of the community. Applications are due by May 10, 2013.

Brower Youth Awards for Environmental Leadership

The Earth Island Institute established The Brower Youth Award for Environmental Leadership to recognize the outstanding leadership efforts of young people who are working for the protection of our shared planet.  Each of the six recipients of the Brower Youth Awards will receive a $3,000 cash prize, a professionally produced short film about their work, and flight and lodging accommodations for a week-long trip to the San Francisco Bay Area. Applications are due by May 13, 2013 by 9:00 p.m. Pacific time

Stream Restoration Challenge

The Stream Restoration Challenge is once again accepting applications for projects that enhance or establish forested stream buffers while creating service learning and environmental literacy activities for students.  With $4 million dollars available, the State of Maryland will add to the 364 acres of buffer funded from the first solicitation and the 13,300 Maryland students that will already be actively engaged.  All proposals are due by Thursday May 30, 2013 at 5pm.

Learning & Leadership Grants

The NEA Foundation’s Learning & Leadership grants support public school teachers, public education support professionals, and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education for one of the following two purposes: (1) Grants to individuals fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences, such as summer institutes or action research; or (2) Grants to groups fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff new to an assignment. The grant amount is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups engaged in collegial study. All professional development must improve practice, curriculum, and student achievement. Applications are due by June 1, 2013.

Student Achievement Grants

The NEA Foundation provides grants to improve the academic achievement of students in U.S. public schools and public higher education institutions in any subject area(s). The proposed work should engage students in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen their knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection. Grant requests can be submitted for $2,000 and $5,000. Applications are due by June 1, 2013.

K-12 Environmental Education Mini Grants

The Chesapeake Bay Trust Mini Grant Program supports activities such as Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE), teacher professional development and programs to advance environmental literacy in the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams.  Non-profit organizations, community associations, faith-based organizations and more in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia can apply for funding of up to $5,000.  Applications are due by June 7, 2013 at 5:00 pm.

Youth raking the roadside on National Public Lands Day. Image: NEEF

Everyone knows of an amazing environmental educator or youth who’s inspiring work so often goes unrecognized. How can we call out their exemplary work?

Finding funding can be a real challenge for formal and informal educators.  Where can they start searching for grants, and what should they search for?

Get creative! Look for ways to integrate environmental education and award recognition  with “hot topics” such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).  Find ways to connect environmental learning to arts education and reading programs.

To kick-start your search, we here at Bay Backpack have assembled a list of grants and award programs that you might be interested in.  The programs included in this list have application deadlines this April. Check them out below, and good luck with your proposals, nominations, and applications!

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching 7-12th Grade

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are the Nation’s highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education. The 2013 Awards will honor math and science teachers working in grades 7-12. Nominations are due by April 1, 2013, and teacher applications are due by May 1, 2013.

Mid-Atlantic Regional Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species 2013 Request for Proposals

The mission of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species (MAP) is to assist state and federal agencies and other stakeholders in developing and implementing strategic, coordinated, and action-oriented approaches to preventing and controlling aquatic invasive species in the mid-Atlantic region. This year, one of MAP’s big focuses for grant funding is on education (developing programs and curricula about aquatic invasive species or evaluating the effectiveness of existing programs) and behavior change. Proposals are due by April 15, 2013 at 5:00 PM EDT

Farm to School Program Grants

The USDA Food & Nutrition Service is implementing a Farm to School program in order to assist eligible entities, through grants and technical assistance, in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. On an annual basis, USDA awards up to $5 million in competitive grants for training, supporting operations, planning, purchasing equipment, developing school gardens, developing partnerships, and implementing farm to school programs. In this funding round, USDA is soliciting applications for three types of grants: Planning grants, Implementation grants, and Support Service grants.  Proposals are due at midnight EST, April 24, 2013.

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Each year, the Barron Prize honors twenty-five outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. The top ten winners each receive a $2,500 cash award to support their service work or higher education. The primary goal of the Prize is to shine the spotlight on these amazing young people so that their stories will inspire others.  Nominate a young hero by April 30, 2013.

Every Day Capacity Building Grants

Our nation’s public lands need our support every day. The National Environmental Education Foundation, with generous support from Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc., seeks to strengthen nonprofit organizations whose missions are focused on serving public land. The Every Day Capacity Building Grants provide Friends Groups with grant funds of up to $5,000 to help the Friends Groups build their capacity to serve public lands. Summer cycle grant proposals are due by April 30, 2013.

Arts, Culture & Design in Schools Grant

Supporting programs that bring the arts to school kids helps expand their horizons and stay on track for a brighter future. A well-rounded education includes music, art, dance and drama, and allows kids to express themselves creatively. Through grants, Target is helping schools bring more arts and culture into the classroom.  Each Arts, Culture & Design in Schools Grant is $2,000. Grant applications are accepted between March 1 and April 30 each year.

Early Childhood Reading Grants

Target is helping kids across the nation get a head start on reading. Reading makes a world of difference in learning. That’s why Target award grants to schools, libraries and non-profit organizations that support programs like after-school reading events and weekend book clubs. Each Early Childhood Reading Grant is $2,000. Grant applications are accepted between March 1 and April 30 each year.

Encourage one or more students you know to apply for the President's Environmental Youth Awards and see what a difference they can make for the environment with an award-winning project.

‘Tis the season… to recognize excellence in environmental education and stewardship! There are plenty of award and grant programs that can help you celebrate success and support future your future environmental efforts.

To save you some time and to help support your Chesapeake Bay watershed, environmental and outdoor education-related activities and projects, we have assembled a list of award and grant programs with application deadlines in December and January. Check them out below, and good luck with your applications!

Outreach and Community Engagement Grant – Maryland Only

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is soliciting proposals for projects that increase public understanding of watershed challenges, build ownership of local watersheds, engage more individuals and organizations in stewardship practices and projects, and expand the base of citizen support necessary to advance the restoration of the Bay. Application Deadline: December 7, 2012.

Environmental Education Regional Model Grants

The purpose of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Education Grants Program is to provide money to support environmental education projects that increase the public’s awareness about environmental issues and provide them with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the environment. This grant provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques, and that will serve as models that can be replicated in a variety of settings. Application Deadline: December 12, 2012.

2013 Chesapeake Bay Trust Awards Program – Maryland Only

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is currently accepting applications and nominations for the Student of the Year Scholarship, the Honorable Arthur Dorman Scholarship, Teacher of the Year, Ellen Fraites Wagner and Melanie Teems awards. Application Deadline: December 20, 2012 at 5:00 pm.

President’s Environmental Youth Awards

The PEYA program promotes awareness of our nation’s natural resources and encourages positive community involvement. Since 1971, the President of the United States has joined with EPA to recognize young people across the U.S. for protecting our nation’s air, water, land, and ecology. Recognized projects are developed by young individuals, school classes (K-12), summer camps, and youth organizations to promote environmental stewardship.  Encourage one or more students you know to apply for PEYA and see what a difference they can make for the environment with an award-winning project!  Application Deadline: December 31, 2013.

K-12 Environmental Education Mini Grants

Through this grant program, the Chesapeake Bay Trust seeks to increase student awareness and involvement in the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and its local streams and rivers. Grant requests can be made for up to $5,000 for funding Watershed Education Experiences and Programs, Service Learning and Action Projects, or Professional Development Workshops and Curriculum. This program has expanded to fund K-12 environmental education in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Application Deadline: January 11, 2013 at 5:00 pm.