03/23/2023 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/23/2023 10:40
These grants allow Forest Service staff to work alongside formal and informal educators to design and deliver STEM programming that engages youth in place-based environmental learning. Even more? Students are introduced to possible natural resource and Forest Service careers.
The Greening STEM model uses the natural environment and real-world challenges to engage learners to deliver high-quality STEM education. All Forest Service Greening STEM projects must include elements of one or more of the Greening STEM design principles:
A competitive Greening STEM proposal infuses agency science and resources into school curricula and focuses on student-directed investigations of environmental issues affecting local public lands.
Since 2020, Greening STEM grants have provided funding-up to $10,000 per project-to support nine holistic STEM programs that work to address agency priorities. This year, $35,000 is available for projects in the 2023-2024 academic school year. Grants range from $5,000 to $10,000.
Grant applications are being accepted through April 30 and all Forest Service units and institutions that manage public lands within the State, Private, & Tribal Forestry network and partners may apply. The application must demonstrate active and collaborative involvement by Forest Service staff, a school or school district, and (optionally) a community-based nonprofit organization.For questions about the grant program, contact Melissa Taggart, State, Private, & Tribal Forestry environmental education specialist, at [email protected], or Robert Sendrey, environmental education program director for the National Environmental Education Foundation, at [email protected]. Learn more about last year's granteesand access the grant application at2023-2024 USDA Forest Service Greening STEM Grants | NEEF (neefusa.org).