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Environmental Education Fund

Environmental Education is a core priority of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. We believe that the recovery of the Chesapeake Bay – and the future health of our environment and our communities – depends on an environmentally literate and engaged citizenry. Through our environmental education grant, training, and awards programs, we seek to create educational opportunities that provide students and young people with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to become better stewards of the environment and the Bay. In 2010, the Trust’s environmental education grants engaged 97,803 students and 5,098 teachers in schools across Maryland and the District of Columbia.

The Environmental Education Funds support four key programs at the Trust:

  • The Mini-Grant Program provides awards of up to $5000 to local schools and community-based organizations to support environmental and outdoor education, including field trips, school yard greening projects, and instruction about the environment and the Bay. The Trust makes approximately 250 Mini-Grant awards per year.
  • The Environmental Education Grant Program supports the establishment of comprehensive environmental education programs in school systems across Maryland. Our goal is to enable all students to have meaningful and high-quality environmental education instruction and outdoor field experience as a part of their K-12 education. We also provide assistance to schools and supporting organizations to ensure that all schools in Maryland become “green schools.”
  • The Green Jobs Program is a new grant program that seeks to address two of Maryland’s most pressing needs, Chesapeake Bay restoration and increased employment. The program supports organizations across the State developing green jobs training and placement programs for youth and young adults.
  • The Trust also administers three State-wide award programs designed to build leadership and recognize excellence among students and teachers involved in environmental education.

The Trust’s annual report summarizes the yearly accomplishments of programs supported through the Environmental Education Fund.

All contributions are unrestricted assets of the Chesapeake Bay Trust and are subject to allocation at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.