The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for its 2017 round of Environmental Education Grants. DEP is also holding a series of 4 workshops to help those interested in applying for the grants.

Applications will be accepted starting October 3 through December 16.

DEP is increasing the range of grants available to eligible applicants. The 2017 round will include grants of up to $50,000 to applicants for larger-scale regional or statewide proposals.

These and other changes to the grant program will be outlined in a series of workshops and a webinar in September to help applicants develop successful proposals.

Workshops

Preregistration for the workshops is required and there is limited capacity.  Online registration is available through the PA Association of Environmental Educators website.

Workshops will be held on the following dates and locations:

-- September 13: 10 a.m. to noon – McKeever Environmental Learning Center, 55 McKeever Center, Sandy Lake, Mercer County.

-- September 15: 10 a.m. to noon – Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road, Philadelphia.

-- September 20: 1 to 3 p.m. – Pool Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlands Conservancy, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus, Lehigh County.

-- September 27: 10 a.m. to noon – Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, Dauphin County.

The workshops are geared to staff from county conservation districts, colleges and universities, public and private schools including Intermediate Units, school district curriculum specialists, nature centers, non-profit organizations, municipalities and authorities, and businesses.

Workshop participants will learn strategies to prepare a successful grant application and should be ready to discuss their ideas for grant funding.

Webinar

In addition to the workshops, DEP will hold a webinar about the grant program from 10 to 11 a.m. on September 29. Registration for the webinar is required. Click Here to sign up.

“Projects funded by environmental education grants promote the environmental literacy of our citizens, both students and adults alike,” DEP Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell said. “When people understand the environmental challenges facing their neighborhoods and communities, they can make informed decisions and take responsible actions to address them.”

Applicants for the new $50,000 general grants must provide a 20 percent match and are not eligible for advance payments.

Traditional mini-grants of up to $3,000 will also be available. The mini-grants are eligible for advance payments and do not require a match.

Awarded projects may begin on or after July 1, 2017. Mini-grant projects must be completed by June 30, 2018 and general grants must be completed by June 30, 2019.

All applicants are encouraged to undertake projects that address DEP’s priority topics of climate change, water education and environmental justice.

The workshops are being held in partnership with the Pennsylvania Association for Environmental Educators, Wildlands Conservancy, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Dauphin County Parks and Recreation and the McKeever Environmental Learning Center.

General information on these grants is posted on DEP’s Environmental Education Grants webpage.  Questions about workshop content should be directed to Ann Devine, DEP Environmental Educator, by sending email to: adevine@pa.gov.

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