Bay Backpack

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training Program Grants (B-WET)

Funding used to provide meaningful watershed educational experience for students and related professional development opportunities for teachers throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Who Should Apply? Schools and school systems, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations and state and local government agencies.
Amount: $25,000 to $200,000
Deadline: October
Contact: Kevin Schabow

Environmental Education Grants

Funding supports environmental education projects that enhance the public's awareness, knowledge, and skills to help people make informed decisions and take responsible actions toward the environment.

Organization: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Who Should Apply? Schools and school systems, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations and state and local government agencies. (A teacher's school district, an educator's not-for-profit organization, or a faculty member's college or university may apply, but an individual teacher is not eligible)
Amount: Minimum award is $15,000 and the maximum is $100,000
Deadline: To be determined
Contact: Karen Scott or Kathleen Kirkland

TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers

Funds support projects that demonstrate creativity, involve risk-taking, possess a visionary quality, and model a novel way of presenting science. Proposed projects should promote exciting and innovative activities to motivate students in science.

Organization: Toyota
Who Should Apply? School science teachers. Middle and high school teachers must teach at least two science classes per day. All applicants must have at least two years science teaching experience in a KÐ12 school not including the current school year.
Amount: up to $10,000
Deadline: March
Contact: tapestry@nsta.org

Aquatic Resources Education Grant Program

Maryland’s Aquatic Resources Education (ARE) Grants Program assists public and private schools (pre-K -12) and environmental education centers that are part of the public school system by providing funding for aquatic based projects.

Organization: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Who Should Apply? Public and private schools (pre-K -12) and environmental education centers that are part of the public school system.
Amount: Schools can apply for up to $2000.00 per school year for student driven projects that benefit Maryland’s aquatic resources. County Environmental/Outdoor Education Centers that are part of the public school system can apply for up to $4000.00 per school year.
Deadline: rolling deadline but please allow 4-6 weeks for approval before you start your project.
Contact: Cindy Etgen

Mini-Grant Program

The majority of Mini Grant applications are submitted by schools for field experiences and on-the ground student service projects, such as schoolyard habitats.

Organization: Chesapeake Bay Trust
Who Should Apply? Schools, organizations, and agencies.
Amount: up to $5,000
Deadline: June, August, and January.
Contact: Kacey Wetzel

Environmental Education Grant Program

Funding for projects that increase environmental stewardship though hands-on education by building and expanding K-12 environmental education programs and increase student access to Meaningful Watershed Experiences. Preference is given to proposals that include the following components; field experiences, student-led action projects, curriculum integration, issue investigation, teacher professional development, and project or program evaluation.

Organization: Chesapeake Bay Trust
Who Should Apply? Municipal and county agencies, school districts, colleges, universities, nonprofits, soil/water conservation districts.
Amount: up to $20,000
Deadline: October
Contact: Kacey Barrett

School Mini-Grant --Pennsylvania Environmental Education Grants Program

Funds can be used to provide education resources, materials, equipment, and transportation to support creative, hands-on environmental education lessons for students.

Organization: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Who Should Apply? Private and public schools.
Amount: Up to $3,000
Deadline: March
Contact: 717-772-1828

School Integration Track -- Pennsylvania Environmental Education Grants Program

Funds can be used to align the Academic Standards of Environment and Ecology into the K-12 curriculum of an entire school district or private school using the model developed by Pennsylvania's Department of Education.

Organization: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Who Should Apply? Private and public schools.
Amount: Up to $15,000
Deadline: March
Contact: 717-772-1828

School Outdoor Learning Resources Track -- Pennsylvania Environmental Education Grants Program

Funds can be used to establish or restore and utilize outdoor learning areas, such as school trails, ponds, wetlands, etc. to support Environment and Ecology and Science and Technology Standards-based lessons.

Organization: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Who Should Apply? Private and public schools.
Amount: Up to $15,000
Deadline: March
Contact: (717) 772-1828

Classroom Grants

Funding provides teachers with small amounts of money for environmental education programs that promote meaningful outdoor experiences. Activities that are eligible for funding include restoration, enhancement, protection and monitoring projects and investigative or experimental design activities that foster academic success, reinforce responsible citizenship, and give children the tools they need to contribute to a healthy and enduring environment.

Organization: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education
Who Should Apply? School or school division.
Amount: $500, $750 or $1,000
Deadline: December
Contact: Jennifer Underwood at (804) 698-4533

Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund Grants

Grants will not be awarded to individuals. Funding for projects that emphasize environmental education or restoration and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay. Projects focusing on environmental education should increase public awareness and knowledge about the Bay, and projects of a restoration and conservation nature should be action oriented. Preferences will be given to environmental education and action-oriented conservation and restoration projects within VirginiaÕs Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Organization: Chesapeake Bay Restoration Advisory Committee
Who Should Apply? State agencies, local governments, and public or private not-for-profit agencies, institutions, or organizations.
Amount: Most are less than $5,000
Deadline: October
Contact: Martin Farber at (804) 786-3591

Mini Grants Program for Washington D.C.

Funding can be used for projects that educate students in Washington D.C. about the Chesapeake Bay and their local watersheds, raise student awareness about the challenges and solutions to restoring the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers, and engage students in community-based restoration and protection projects that benefit watershed.

Organization: Chesapeake Bay Trust
Who Should Apply? Schools, organizations, and agencies.
Amount: up to $5,000
Deadline: June, August, and January.
Contact: Kacey Wetzel