President’s Environmental Youth Award & Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators

The President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) recognizes outstanding environmental projects by K-12 youth. 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 for protecting our nation’s air, water, land, and ecology. It is one of the most important ways EPA and the Administration demonstrate commitment to environmental stewardship efforts created and conducted by our nation’s youth.
Each year the PEYA program honors a wide variety of projects developed by young individuals, school classes (kindergarten through high school), summer camps, public interest groups, and youth organizations to promote environmental awareness. Thousands of young people from all 50 states and the U.S. territories have submitted projects to EPA for consideration. Winning projects in the past have covered a wide range of subject areas, including:

- restoring native habitats
- recycling in schools and communities
- construction of nature preserves
- tree planting
- installing renewable energy projects
- creating videos, skits and newsletters that focused on environmental issues
- participating in many other creative sustainability efforts

Evaluation results consistently demonstrate that participation in the PEYA program is frequently a life-changing experience for many of the young people and their project sponsors.

Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators application period extended

The application period for the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators has been extended until May 31, 2016. The Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators recognizes outstanding kindergarten through grade 12 teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as a context for learning for their students. Up to two teachers from each of EPA’s 10 regions, from different states, will be selected to receive this award. The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers this award to honor, support and encourage educators who incorporate environmental education in their classrooms & teaching methods.

Selectees will be awarded up to $2,500 to be used to further their professional development in environmental education.
The teacher’s local education agency will also receive up to $2,500 to fund environmental education activities and programs.
This year’s winners and honorable mentions will be invited to attend a White House event this summer.
Find out how to apply at: https://www.epa.gov/education/presidential-innovation-award-environmental-educators. (http://go.usa.gov/3u7XQ)

EPA, in partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, administers this award to honor, support, and encourage educators who incorporate environmental education in their classrooms & teaching methods.