The Chesapeake Bay Trust’s (Trust) Mini Environmental Education Grant Program was established to provide accessible funds to schools, organizations, and agencies to support educating students about their local environment and how they can become stewards and have an impact in their community.

To accomplish this goal the program funds up to $5,000 for projects that involve students investigating a local environmental issue, problem, or phenomenon through indoor and outdoor research culminating in developing solutions and taking action in their school or community – also known as the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) model. Funds can cover a multitude of items including costs for field trips, fieldwork, transportation, substitute fees, and supplies for student projects. This grant program also aims to build teacher capacity and comfort in leading environmental education programs by funding the attendance to or development of professional development trainings for educators.

Through the Mini Environmental Education Grant Program, the Trust seeks to increase student awareness and involvement in the restoration and protection of their region’s natural resources through increasing access to programs that provide Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs).

What this funds?

Meaningful outdoor learning experiences around a watershed issue investigation including field trips, fieldwork, student-led action projects, schoolyard habitat projects as well as teacher professional development trainings and programs to advance environmental literacy.

Funding Information

Up to $5,000

Eligible Project Types

The Trust funds three types of projects in this program: MWEEs, outdoor classroom and/or school-yard habitat improvement, and professional development for educators.

• Project Type 1: MWEEs for Students
• Project Type 2: Outdoor Classroom and/or School-yard Habitat Improvement Requests
• Project Type 3: Professional Development for School Staff

Who can apply?

The Trust welcome requests from the following organizations:

• 501(c)3 Organizations
• Faith Based Organizations
• Community Associations
• Service, Youth, and Civic Groups
• Municipal, County, Regional, State, Federal Public Agencies
• Soil/Water Conservation Districts and/or Resource Conservation and Development Councils
• Forestry Boards
• Public or Independent Higher Education Institutions

For more information, visit Chesapeake Bay Trust.