Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded $1,173,789 in Environmental Education Grants to 68 environmental education projects that will promote environmental stewardship across Pennsylvania.
“These projects help connect people to the ways we can protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, and many of them encourage learning at any age whether you're a kid or an adult,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Every grant we are awarding supports educational opportunities and will further improve people’s connections to their environment.”
See Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley Announcing the 2025 Environmental Education Awards
The Environmental Education Grants program prioritizes proposals that will deliver meaningful environmental education programs to people who live, work, or attend school in areas of the Commonwealth often most threatened by climate change, and air and water pollution. This year 87% of the awarded projects will support projects that engage youth and/or adults within such areas.
The 2025 projects will deliver a wide range of environmental education programs that include providing youth with unique immersive field experiences, engaging community residents in practical climate resiliency projects, supporting school districts’ efforts to develop new STEELS standards-based curriculum, and many more.
Awarded projects are listed below. More information about the Environmental Education Grants Program is available on DEP’s website, including a listing of projects that were previously awarded funding during recent years.
Adams
- Adams County Conservation District was awarded $4,889 for “Tour of Best Management Practices at the Adams County Ag Center” to host a Best Management Practice (BMP) tour for youth and adults. Signage will describe BMPs and QR codes will provide links to quizzes, surveys, mapping/locational exercises, and hands-on activities.
- Gettysburg College was awarded $4,998 for its “Renewable Energy and Energy Audit MWEE” project. Renewable energy and energy audit resource loan kits (grades 4-9) and related teacher training(s) will be provided.
Allegheny
- Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) was awarded $16,798 for its “Aquatic Academy: Becoming Water Wise on our Waterways,” to host four teacher workshops, including tools and resources to begin immediate implementation of lessons and activities; ALT will also receive $5,000 for “Girty’s Bees and Beyond: Habitat Planning for Pollinators and Watersheds” field studies for high school students in grades 9-12.
- Communitopia was awarded $4,990 to host six “Climate Adventures Field Experiences” for teachers in grades 7-12, who will learn about local climate change causes, effects, and solutions.
- Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was awarded $29,700 for its “Neighborhood Roots Afterschool Program” that will engage middle school students (grades 6-8) in activities and a stewardship action project.
- Venture Outdoors Inc. was awarded $29,392 for the “Venture Outdoors Learning Lab & Leadership Academy,” that will engage middle and high school students in lessons and field experiences and offer interns multiple professional development opportunities.
Armstrong
- Armstrong Center for Community Learning was awarded $7,704 for the “Community Climate Change & Waste Reduction Education Program,” including eco-camps, library “Escape Rooms,” and family waste reduction and recycling programs.
Beaver
- RiverWise was awarded $19,180 to host a “Summer Sustainability Institute” for middle and high school students, who will be engaged in hands-on learning, create video interviews, and write sustainability-themed articles.
Berks
- Reading School District was awarded $4,988 for its “Northeast Middle School Environmental Grant” project for programming for students and adult evening English Language Learners (ELLs) through a hands-on gardening project.
Bucks
- Bucks County Community College was awarded $22,000 for its “Environmental Education and Coastal Plan Forest Restoration Project” to host two semesters of a PA STEELS standards-based course that engages high school students in hands-on environmental restoration activities, including plantings and maintenance of 100 native trees and shrubs.
- Heritage Conservancy was awarded $30,000 to deliver its “Expanding Environmental Education Opportunities for Quakertown Community School District” project. Teacher trainings and student programs will be provided to advance environmental literacy.
- Quakertown Community School District was awarded $12,027 for its “Pathways to Climate Stewardship: Environmental Literacy with the Climate Action Kit” project. A STEELS standards-based Climate Action Kit (grades 4-8) will be developed, and teachers will be trained in its use.
Butler
- Butler Area School District was awarded $5,000 for its “BASD STEELS Implementation” project to engage at least 500 students in outdoor hands-on learning experiences utilizing the District’s Connoquenessing Nature Trail.
Carbon
- Carbon County Environmental Education Center was awarded $4,458 for its “Making the Dead Come Alive” educator workshop that marries elements of museum science with environmental education.
Chester
- Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art was awarded $23,187 for “Waterside Tales: Empowering Local Communities through Water quality Awareness.” People of all ages and cultures will be engaged in activities such as storybook walks and discussions about land use impacts and solutions to help protect water quality.
Clarion
- Clarion County Conservation District was awarded $19,009 for “Enhancing Water and Climate Education in Clarion County” to host a series of webinars and hands-on in person workshops.
Columbia
- Columbia County Conservation District was awarded $5,000 to host “Composting Towards a Climate Solution.” Activities will address how composting can help combat climate change while improving water quality.
Dauphin
- Dauphin County Conservation District was awarded $5,000 for the “2025 Stormwater Management for Homeowners Workshop.” Partnering with municipal leaders, workshops will be delivered that address runoff and other sources of non-point source pollution.
Delaware
- Lower Merion Conservancy was awarded $27,250 for “Enhancing Environmental Resilience in Urban Communities” to offer property owner workshops and technical assistance. Two tree-planting events will be hosted.
- Delaware County Conservation District was awarded $5,000 to host the “Delaware County Annual Sustainability Conference.” A one-day hybrid event will engage academics, professionals, community members and citizen scientists.
- Ridley School District was awarded $16,889 for “Pathways to Climate Stewardship: Environmental Literacy with the Climate Action Kit.” The project will train teachers and offer a platform for students to design, build and code real-world climate action solutions. Students will use a vertical aeroponic system to grow and harvest plants.
Erie
- Regional Science Consortium at Presque Isle Center was awarded $30,000 for “Coding for Climate Change: Using robotics to engineer solutions.” Through hands-on investigations, students (grades 3-12) will explore climate change and water-themed issues in the field, in the lab and in a robotics classroom.
- The Arts Council of Erie has been awarded $30,000 to host “The Art & Science of Water: A multi-disciplinary immersive summer camp experience.” Youth (grades 4-8) will be engaged in in Food, Sustainability, and Streams programming and implement a stewardship action project.
Huntingdon
- Pennsylvania State University was awarded $30,000 for the “Penn State K-12 Sustainability Summit 2025.” The project will host 50 education leaders from 22 school districts to help increase sustainability efforts in the K-12 space.
Indiana
- Indiana County Conservation District was awarded $10,180 for “Indiana County Environmental Futures: Education for Water, Climate, and Environmental Justice.” Hands-on activities will include classroom and field experiences. A water quality lender kit, to support teaching and learning, will be developed.
Lawrence
- Ellwood City Area School District has been awarded $29,250 for “Sustainable Solutions at Ellwood City Area School District.” The project will launch a comprehensive aquaponics program, that fosters environmental literacy and stewardship.
- Lawrence County Conservation District was awarded $4,905 for “Nature Camps for Lawrence County.” The project to host two separate age-appropriate camps that address the relationship between climate change and water quality.
Lehigh
- Lehigh County Conservation District was awarded $4,969 for the “Orefield Middle School Outdoor Experience.” Seventh grade field experiences will include investigations, interdisciplinary lessons, stream monitoring and data collection.
- Wildlands Conservancy was awarded $4,994 for its “Clean Water Connections: Exploring Watersheds by Trail” program that will integrate biking and boating to deliver PA STEELS standards-based programming. Wildlands Conservancy was also awarded $22,194 for the “Environmentor: Climate Change in Our Watershed” project. High School students will participate in hands-on programs and serve as EnvironMentors for middle school students. Additionally, teachers will be trained on managing vermiculture composting units.
Luzerne
- Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18 was awarded $30,000 for “Engaging School Communities in Environmental Stewardship through the Visual Arts” to provide professional development to teachers (grades 5-8) on the PA Environmental Literacy and Sustainability and Arts and Humanities Academic Standards.
- Wyoming Valley West High School was awarded $4,995 for “Vertical Harvesting Using Hydroponics in the Classroom.” Science and home economic classes will be engaged in standards-based activities addressing water quality, soil and land and water conservation.
Monroe
- Monroe County Conservation District was awarded $10,400 for the “From Current to Classroom: Educating Through Electrofishing.” A new fisheries science program, utilizing electrofishing, will help increase students’ awareness of aquatic ecosystem and inspire stewardship.
Montgomery
- Delaware Riverkeeper Network was awarded $4,879 for “Greening Minds and Riparian Buffers in Pottstown.” Multi-phased freshwater ecology and green stormwater infrastructure presentations will be offered followed by a riparian buffer tree planting program.
- Riverbend Environmental Education Center was awarded $29,312 for “Making MWEEs Work for You: A Year-long Community of Practice & Professional Development Program.” Teachers (grades K-8) will be offered a summer Science workshop and be provided support throughout the school year including monthly virtual meetings, classroom visits a field experience, and guidance for implementing student action projects.
- Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership was awarded $4,996 for “Arts-Integrated Watershed Education” to engage youth and adults in a series of interactive watershed and climate resiliency workshops.
Northampton
- The Nurture Nature Center was awarded $29,983 for “Connecting Climate Change and Agriculture: Programming to Increase Knowledge of Local Foods and Regenerative Agriculture.” Youth, adults and growers will be engaged in hands-on activities and demonstrations.
Perry
- LEAF Project Inc. was awarded $29,560 for its “Cultivating Resilience & Youth Leaders: Adapting to Climate Change on the Farm” project. The youth led initiative will address implementation of “climate-smart” farm and food system practices. Information will be shared digitally and during events, workshops and school programs.
Philadelphia
- Green Woods Charter School was awarded $5,000 for its “Empowering Tomorrow's Climate Leaders” program to offer practical information about ecological responsibility, biodiversity, and sustainable practices. A campus arboretum will provide hands-on learning opportunities for middle school students, educators, and the local community.
- Historic Fair Hill was awarded $4,750 for its “Natural Connections Field Programs” to host at least 50 field experiences for 10 schools and deliver standards-based lessons addressing nature exploration, biodiversity and/or urban agriculture.
- Philadelphia Solar Energy Association was awarded $30,000 for “Solar for Environmental Justice Communities.” The project will provide multiple programs including Solar Toolkits, trainings for teachers and nonprofits and the annual Junior Solar Sprint.
- School District of Philadelphia was awarded $30,000 for “SDP Green Careers E5: Exploration, Engagement, Empowerment, Entrepreneurial, Employment” that will establish a replicable Green Careers Pathway Program. Curriculum, materials and other support will be provided to ensure long-term success.
Pike
- Pocono Environmental Education Center was awarded $29,711 for “PEEC Into the Classroom” to deliver diverse environmental education programs, including classroom activities and day and overnight field experiences.
Tioga
- Wellsboro Area School District was awarded $1,351 for “Mussels in the Classroom.” Students will study native mussels and the American Eel in the classroom and learn how these species can help improve water quality.
Venango
- Venango Conservation District was awarded $4,457 for its “Venango County Youth Agriculture Education Initiative” that will provide outdoor experiences to school students grades 6-12 at a local farm. Climate change and water activities will address several Pennsylvania Environmental Literacy and Sustainability standards.
Washington
- Fort Cherry School District was awarded $5,000 for the “Restorative Agriculture: Food Waste, Composting, and Soils Improvement Project” that will launch a district-wide PA STEELS standards-based composting campaign as part of a broader initiative focused on carbon awareness, soil improvement, and regenerative agriculture.
- Trinity Area School District was awarded $30,000 for “Sustainable Systems at TASD,” that will deliver teacher (grades 6-8) water-resource trainings. Using an Aquaponics system, students will foster critical thinking, problem-solving and other “soft skills” through hands-on, curiosity-based lessons.
Wayne
- Delaware Highlands Conservancy was awarded $30,000 for “Conservation Education Programs 2025-2026” including 25 new STEELS standards-based programs addressing climate resiliency, water quality, land management and a healthy environment. Additionally, the project will provide a Mobile Education Display to 3 libraries to enhance the public's understanding of plants, water, habitat, and wildlife.
- Lacawac Sanctuary Foundation was awarded $15,482 for its “Youth Environmental Stewardship Institute of NEPA” project to provide hands-on conservation workshops to students grades 9-12, addressing climate change, water quality, leadership development, environmental advocacy and potential career pathways.
Westmoreland
- Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art was awarded $5,000 for “Westmoreland County Pennsylvania Master Naturalist Training” that includes a 12-week course for adults who will, in turn, provide 30 hours of community service.
- Saint Vincent College was awarded $5,000 for its “Learnscape: Smart Trails for Environmental and Climate Science Awareness Project” that will install interactive “smart trail” technology systems at two key natural areas. School groups and community visitors will access information and learn potential actions they can take to help address climate change and improve stream quality.
- Westmoreland Conservation District was awarded $3,037 for its “Storm Drain Marker Outreach Project.” Working with municipal leaders, locally relevant storm drain markers will be created and distributed. A public outreach campaign will be developed to publicize the project and recruit volunteers to help install the markers.
Multi-County Projects
- Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania was awarded $5,000 to offer “Clairton Middle/High School Watershed and Science Education” programming that will include both classroom and field work in Allegheny and Butler counties.
- Blair County Conservation District was awarded $30,000 for “Regional Education on Healthy Soils, Riparian Buffers and Urban Green Spaces.” Interactive Stormwater Management programs and learning stations will be delivered to students, families and community members from Blair and Huntingdon counties.
- Farm Arts Collective, Inc. was awarded $15,000 for its “Agri-Cultural Climate-Change Programming Created and Realized by Farm Arts Collective” project that will deliver climate change and other environmental programming in Wayne and Lackawanna counties including staged performances, workshops, and community led discussions.
- Greener Partners was awarded $22,429 for “Sustainable and Plant-Forward Food Education” that will deliver hands-on, garden-based lessons to five schools, in Delaware and Philadelphia counties, that address climate change impacts and personal actions to support a healthy planet.
- Mountain Watershed Association was awarded $30,000 to conduct “Expanding Outdoor Education in the Youghiogheny River Watershed” in Allegheny, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties. The project will provide immersive hands-on programs, free community workshops, organized nature walks, fishing clinics, and service-learning opportunities.
- Pennsylvania Envirothon Inc. was awarded $51,700 for the “2026 Pennsylvania Envirothon” to engage high student teams from at least 60 counties. The teams’ knowledge will be tested in Soils/Land Use, Aquatic Ecology, Wildlife, Forestry, and a Current Environmental Issues (i.e., climate change, water quality/quantity, and green infrastructure). Additionally, student teams will prepare and present a solution to a given environmental scenario. The high-ranking team will participate in the National Conservation Foundation Envirothon.
- Pennsylvania Resources Council Inc. was awarded $28,424 to conduct 8 “Small Scale Composting for Urban Communities” workshops in Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette and Delaware counties, focusing on reducing food waste and implementing indoor composting methods.
- Pennsylvania State University was awarded $28,100 to deliver “Equipping Educators through First Investigation of Stream Health Protocol Workshops.” Educators from Butler, Centre and Cumberland counties will learn First Investigation of Stream Health (FISH) protocol and be provided supplies to guide middle and high school youth investigations.
- Pennsylvania State University was awarded $30,000 to deliver a “Per-and Poly-Fluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) workshop for Extension Educators and Volunteers.” Participants from Beaver, Cumberland, Jefferson, Lancaster/York, Northampton and Westmoreland counties will learn about PFAs fundamentals and management and, in turn, deliver community education programs.
- Pennsylvania State University was awarded $29,994 for “Supporting the Robust Environmental Education Pipeline with Science-U Summer Camps” to deliver inquiry-based, learner driven programs to youth from Centre and Huntingdon counties. Program content will feature pressing environmental issues, action steps and related career paths.
- Philadelphia Ethical Society was awarded $5,000 for the “Camp Linden Children's Summer Program 2025-26.” The project will host summer camp sessions that engage at least 150 school-age children from Chester and Philadelphia counties in lessons and activities addressing nature, climate change and water pollution.
- Stroud Water Research Center Inc. was awarded $30,000 for the “Development of Outdoor Learning at Five School Sites: Cohort 25-26” program. In full collaboration with school districts located in Chester, Lancaster and Lebanon counties, the project will offer teacher curriculum development trainings and provide guidance for developing outdoor learning spaces on school sites.
- Spirit & Truth Fellowship was awarded $24,090 for its “Faith-Based Climate Justice Educational Initiative in Philadelphia.” Engaging residents in Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties, the project will host fall trainings for church-based leadership, monthly meetings, a blog and an annual meeting. Additionally, it will deliver solar and cool-roof installation courses to vocational students and community residents.
- The Watersmith Guild, Inc. was awarded $27,188 to provide 18 “First Waves” workshops in Allegheny, Butler, Cambria, Erie, Indiana and Somerset counties. Youth will engage in river and stewardship experiences and create digital media documentary films about their adventures.
- Willistown Conservation Trust was awarded $5,000 to engage municipal leaders, residents and organizations from Chester and Delaware counties in its “Darby & Cobbs Creek Community Science Monitoring Program.” During three interactive workshops, data will be discussed and actionable steps to improve local waterways will be explored.
The Environmental Education Grants Program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which mandates setting aside 5 percent of the pollution fines and penalties DEP collects annually for environmental education in Pennsylvania. To date, DEP has awarded almost $15.5 million in Environmental Education Grant funding to support more than 2,320 projects.
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