The Environmental Education Grant Program aims to enhance environmental literacy among students in Maryland, providing them with the skills, knowledge, and motivation needed to take informed action to protect and improve the environment. The program offers funding to support the implementation of Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) and capacity-building efforts for environmental education. Eligible applicants include Maryland school districts, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, higher education institutions, and community associations.
For Fiscal Year 2025, $290,000 is available, with two main funding tracks: MWEE Implementation and Environmental Literacy Capacity Building. MWEE Implementation grants offer up to $40,000 per year for projects piloting or integrating MWEEs into school curricula over one to three years. The MWEE model engages students in hands-on learning about local environmental issues through classroom and outdoor activities, fostering problem-solving and civic action. Capacity Building grants provide up to $40,000 for efforts that advance environmental literacy at the district or state level, including collaborative initiatives that strengthen MWEE integration.
Applicants are encouraged to leverage matching funds, though a match is not required. The program collaborates with the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education Training Program and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to support high-quality environmental education across the region. The application deadline is December 12, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. EST, and applications must be submitted through the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s online system.
The program's long-term goal is to embed MWEEs into the curriculum for at least one grade level in elementary, middle, and high school across Maryland's 24 school districts, ensuring that all students receive impactful environmental education. Over the past decade, the grant program has supported projects that integrate MWEEs into curricula, build educator capacity, and address barriers to sustainable program implementation.
