The Chesapeake Bay Trust’s FY26 Youth Environmental Education Grant Program is designed to expand youth engagement and educator capacity in environmental education initiatives across the Chesapeake Bay region. The program aims to increase youth knowledge about watersheds and natural resource stewardship, engage communities in environmental action, and enhance the quality and accessibility of outdoor environmental learning opportunities.
This program funds projects that align with the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) model, emphasizing youth-led investigations of local environmental issues followed by informed action. The program supports four tracks: Out-of-School Outdoor Investigations (up to $10,000), Outdoor Classrooms and Community-Based Improvement Projects (up to $10,000), Professional Development for Educators (up to $5,000), and In-School MWEEs for Pre-K–12 Students (up to $5,000).
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, faith-based organizations, community associations, service and civic groups, public agencies, conservation districts, and public or independent higher education institutions. Projects must occur in Maryland or the Chesapeake Bay watershed areas of D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia. Match funding is required in some cases, especially for school-based requests from non-Title I schools.
Applications must be submitted online by Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 4:00 PM EST. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to Program Coordinator Jaren Baluyot for assistance at jbaluyot@cbtrust.org or 410-974-2941 x103. Awards will be announced by August 29, 2025, and projects should begin no earlier than September 1, 2025. Strong applications will demonstrate adherence to MWEE best practices, climate change education integration, and commitment to engaging historically underrepresented communities.
