2025 Connie Saylor Johnson Wilderness Education Grant

The Connie Saylor Johnson Wilderness Education Grant, administered by the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation, supports wilderness education for future generations. The Foundation was established in 2005 to connect communities, particularly youth, with wilderness stewardship experiences across the 3.7-million-acre Selway-Bitterroot and Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness areas in Idaho and Montana. In 2019, the Foundation launched an endowment fund in honor of Connie Saylor Johnson (1941–2018), a former teacher, Forest Service Wilderness Ranger, and longtime contributor to the Foundation. Johnson was known for her commitment to hands-on wilderness education and helped provide field-based learning experiences for students and educators alike. The purpose of the grant is to fund projects that incorporate wilderness values and stewardship into classroom instruction or outdoor learning. Proposals must clearly demonstrate alignment with three key objectives to be considered eligible: creation, implementation, or enhancement of wilderness-focused curricula or programs; support for educational or continuing professional development opportunities that expand wilderness knowledge for teachers; and contributions toward participants' appreciation and understanding of wilderness values. The grant offers up to $2,000 per project, and allowable activities include both direct education delivery and professional development for educators. Applications should detail how the proposed project educates either youth or adults about wilderness topics such as conservation, stewardship, and ecological appreciation. Acceptable uses of funds may include curriculum materials, instructor stipends, transportation costs, and other relevant program expenses. Eligibility is limited to elementary and secondary teachers and schools, museums, libraries, historical societies, arts organizations, colleges and universities, tribal governments, and local or county governments based in Idaho, Montana, or Iowa. This geographic limitation reflects the Foundation’s regional stewardship mission. The grant is not available to individuals, for-profit businesses, or entities outside the three specified states. Applications must be submitted in PDF format via email to csj@selwaybitterroot.org by October 31st. A detailed project budget must accompany the application form, which is available online at selwaybitterroot.org/csjwef-grant. All questions on the application form must be completed, and incomplete submissions will not be reviewed. Although specific evaluation criteria are not published, successful applications are expected to clearly demonstrate their connection to wilderness education and stewardship, as well as their capacity to impact participants’ understanding or appreciation of wilderness. For more information or clarification regarding the application process or eligibility, applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation at the email provided.