March 11, 2026

The Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP) provides leadership, coordination, technical assistance, and funding to evaluate, conserve, and protect Pennsylvania’s coldwater streams.

CHP runs a mini-grant program that offers both planning and implementation grants. A few practices these grants have supported include:

CHP’s mini-grant program is one of many mini-grant opportunities that DCNR supports. If you have a smaller recreation or conservation project that needs some funding, one of these programs might be a good fit for you.

Mini-grants have gotten even better in 2026. New this year, required match for many DCNR-funded mini-grants has decreased from dollar-for-dollar to 25 percent of the grant request. Check with the individual mini-grant opportunity to confirm if this option is available.

Wondering what mini-grants exist in your area? Reach out to your DCNR regional advisor to discuss your project and see what mini-grants might work for you.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) recently announced that the Pine Creek Rail Trail has been named Pennsylvania’s 2026 Trail of the Year.

The 62-mile trail takes visitors on a scenic journey through the Appalachian Mountains in Lycoming and Tioga counties.

“This designation will raise awareness about the wealth of outdoor experiences in the Pennsylvania Wilds — including the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and the recently improved visitor center at Leonard Harrison State Park,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.

The Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee designates the Trail of the Year. The award builds enthusiasm and support for trails across the state. It also raises public awareness about the value of Pennsylvania’s land and water trail network.

Dates were recently announced for two trail conferences happening this fall.

The 2026 Western Pennsylvania Trails and Greenways Summit will happen on August 26-27 at the Kovalchik Convention and Athletic Complex in Indiana, PA.

Across the state, the 2026 Eastern Pennsylvania Greenways and Trails Summit will take place September 16-18 at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem in Bethlehem, PA.

The Western and Eastern summits happen every other year. They alternate with the statewide Pennsylvania Greenways and Trails Summit. In February, WeConservePA announced that the 2027 statewide summit will take place in Tioga County.

As Pennsylvania enters its peak spring wildfire season, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced more than $900,000 in grants through the Volunteer Fire Assistance Program.

“Making sure our wildfire firefighters are well-equipped and highly trained is essential to protecting our forests and wildlands from both human-caused and naturally occurring fires,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.

The DCNR Bureau of Forestry runs the Volunteer Fire Assistance Program, which is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The program provides grants of up to $15,000 on a 50/50 cost-share basis. The grants go to fire companies serving rural communities and municipalities with fewer than 10,000 residents.

The annual Community Conservation Partnerships (C2P2) Program grant application period is open through 4:00 PM on Thursday, April 30.

During the grant round, we’ll include tips in this e-news to help you submit the most competitive application you can.

This issue’s tip: Choose the right grant type for your project.

Your first task when applying is choosing which grant to apply for. Different grant types ask different questions and require different documents. That means starting your application in the wrong grant type can hurt your score.

A common example concerns trails. If your project involves a long-distance trail, then “Non-motorized Trails” is usually the best option. But for a loop trail in your local park, it’s better to apply under “Park Rehabilitation and Development.”

How do you know which grant to apply for? The C2P2 grant workshop videos are a good place to start. Your regional advisor can also help you decide — one more reason to reach out to them early in your application process.