DEP Newsroom

Meadville, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today a total of $632,897 in environmental grant funds have been awarded to 63 projects, 50 of which engage youth and adults living and/or working within environmental justice areas. Grants were awarded to schools, institutions, conservation districts, and environmental and community organizations. 

“These grants help provide the foundation for environmental education for people of all ages,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “This year’s Earth Day theme is ‘Invest In Our Planet’ and each of these projects represents an investment into furthering the environmental education of Pennsylvanians.” 

“We are excited to see all of these great projects receiving funding in northwestern Pennsylvania,” said Erin Wells, DEP’s Northwest Regional Director. “Environmental education grants are crucial to our partners who continue their environmental outreach in our local communities.”

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. Since its inception, the DEP has awarded $12.3 million in environmental education grant funding to support 2,135 projects.

The 2022 program selected applications for the development of innovative formal and non-formal education projects that: 

• Address grant program priorities of water, climate change, and/or environmental justice. 

• Provide opportunities to expand the public’s understanding of Pennsylvania’s environmental issues; and 

• Develop skills required to make informed decisions.

Grants were awarded to schools, institutions, conservation districts, and environmental and community organizations. Thirty-four local projects received mini grants of up to $3,000; 28 projects with a broad or statewide reach received general grants of up to $20,000; and one project, designed to engage students and teachers at the local, state, and national levels, received a grant of $65,710. More than 90 percent of grant funds will support projects that engage youth and adults living or working within Environmental Justice areas.

• Armstrong Center for Community Learning: Launch a year-long project for high school students addressing clean water and engaging them in several activities throughout the region such as tree plantings, tours, storm drain stenciling and water testing. ($13,529)

• Seneca Valley School District: Using a Flex Farm-Generation 4 technology system, 5th grade environmental curriculum will address the food chain, photosynthesis, the water cycle, and sustainability concepts. ($3,000)

 

 

• Clarion County Conservation District: Install two interpretive signs at an AMD passive treatment system and organize 3 field tours for high school and university teachers, agency partners and the community. ($3,000)

 

• Allegheny College: Create an education program for campus educators, K-12 classes and the community involving the new permaculture food forest to address climate change and promote sustainable local food systems. ($3,000) 

• Regional Science Consortium: Beginning with teacher trainings, schools will implement an Adopt-a-Stream water monitoring program involving environmental audits and implementation of stewardship action projects. ($19,997) 

• School District of the City of Erie (2 projects): Expand the existing ‘Residential Garden Program-Paying It Forward.’ Former participants will mentor new students and families. ($3,000); and establish a school garden for student field studies and guest presentations on topics such as climate change, environmental justice and food sovereignty. ($2,993)   

• The Pennsylvania State University: Implement a hands-on environmental education series, supporting STEM studies, for elementary students and educators addressing water, watersheds and climate change. ($3,000) 

Multiple Counties: 

• Group Against Smog & Pollution, Inc.: Develop an air quality primer and host workshops for elected leaders and staff in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. ($19,922)

• Pennsylvania Envirothon: Implement a statewide project that encourages high school students' exploration of environmental issues and provides them with tools for creating healthy communities through stewardship actions. Students and teachers interact at the county, state and national levels. Analyze the existing program to determine ways of expanding engagement of teachers and youth in environmental justice areas. ($65,710)

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