CBT/EPA Environmental Education Capacity Building Program Informational Webinar June 19, 2012

Agenda   Goals, purpose and scope of the program   State Priorities and example projects   Funding Criteria   Deadlines and FAQ’s   How to apply   Comments from State Environmental Education Associations (Affiliates)   Questions

Chesapeake Bay Trust  A nonprofit, grant-making organization dedicated to sparking on-the-ground change for restored rivers and bays.  Primary focus is to support increased stewardship through environmental education, community based restoration, & public engagement activities.  Based in Maryland, growing a regional portfolio

Purpose of EE Capacity Building Sub-Award Program  Advance Environmental Literacy efforts in the Mid-Atlantic states by supporting 1. The development of support systems that enables implementation of each state’s environmental literacy plan or programs 2. Increased access to EE educators in the region to professional development opportunities, tools, and resources. 3. Programs and networks in order to maintain buildings, grounds, and operations that support positive environmental and human health outcomes. 4. Targeted capacity building strategies to create and support high quality programs

Available Funding $110,774 total funding available for sub awards Accepting requests Up to:

Eligible Applicants  Local education agencies, college or universities, state education or environmental agencies, and non-profit organizations (e.g. ee providers, affliliates,etc)  Projects must be in PA, MD, DC, DE, VA, WV

Non Eligible Applicants  For-profit entities cannot be the lead applicant  Individual primary and secondary schools (teachers) are not eligible to apply  Individuals

Identified priority needs with in each state Priorities should guide applicant decisions on which projects are preferred but do not limit activities eligible for funding Example Projects provided are just that, examples!

Delaware Example Priority Needs  To increase understanding of how Env Ed integrates with common cores standards, STEM, emerging new science framework/standards  Documentation of the link between EE and student achievement  Increased administrative support for outdoor learning Example project:  Professional Development (PD) workshops for non-formal educators to build understanding of how environmental education can support common core, STEM, and the emerging new science framework and/or to build competence in inquiry based and investigative instructional techniques

Maryland Example Priority Needs  To increase understanding of how Env Ed integrates with common cores standards, STEM, emerging new science framework/standards  Increase understanding and use of issue investigation, project based pedagogy for formal/non-formal educators   Increased collaboration between schools, school systems and environmental sustainability and green building non-profit organizations. (e.g Green Building Alliance, US Green Building Council, Farm to School programs, food and nutrition groups, etc.) Example project  Implementation of a workshop to forge working partnerships between green building industry, school facilities staff, teachers and EE Providers.

Pennsylvania Example Priority Needs  To increase understanding of how Env Ed integrates with common cores standards, STEM, emerging new science framework/standards  Training for teachers on using schoolyard and facility sustainability efforts as a context for learning and increased collaboration with green building support organizations.  Increased administrative support for outdoor learning Example project:  A symposium for principals and administrators that seeks to increase administrative support for outdoor learning and/or school “greening” efforts

Example Priority Needs  To increase understanding of how Env Ed integrates with common cores standards, STEM, emerging new science framework/standards  Development/enhancement of programs/protocols to support wide spread adoption of schoolyard habitats/outdoor classrooms  Increased administrative support for outdoor learning Example project  PD workshops for educators to build understanding of how environmental education integrates with STEM, and the emerging new science framework and/or to build competence in the use of outdoors to teach school curriculum Virginia

Example Priority Needs  To increase understanding of how Env Ed integrates with common cores standards, STEM, emerging new science framework/standards  Increased information on EE resources and collaboration among DC providers, administrators and teachers.  Capacity building training for Environmental education organizations to increase their ability to offer effective programs Example project:  A fundraising training for environmental education organizations that seeks to increase organizations ability to support programs Washington, DC

Example Priority Needs  Training to support Green Ribbon School attainment for teachers, administrators and EE providers  Develop/enhance an environmental certification programs for schools  Increase understanding and use of place based education, or environment as an integrating context by teachers and schools Example project:  A series of trainings for teachers, administrators, and facilities managers to support US Department of Education Green Ribbon School attainment West Virginia

Criteria  Ability to address state priorities  Applicants must also indicate how the proposal meets at least one of the following  EPA Educational Priorities:  Capacity Building  Educational Advancement  Community Projects  Human Health and the Environment  EE Teaching Skills  Career Development

EPA’s Educational Priorities Capacity Building: Increasing capacity to develop and deliver coordinated environmental education programs across a state or across multiple states. Educational Advancement: Utilizing environmental education as a catalyst to advance state or local education reform goals. Community Projects: Addressing environmental stewardship in a local educational context and using community-based stewardship activities as the primary teaching tool. Human Health and the Environment: Educating K-12 youth, post secondary students, and educators in formal and non-formal settings about human health threats from environmental pollution/issues and how to minimize human exposure to preserve good health. EE Teaching Skills: Providing pre-service and in-service professional development for teachers, faculty, or non-formal educators to improve their environmental education teaching skills and/or knowledge about environmental issues and content. Career Development: Educating K-12 youth, post secondary students, and their educators in formal and non-formal settings about environmental issues, solutions and stewardship for the purpose of encouraging interest in environmental careers.

Applicants should indicate (check) which of the following criteria are addressed by the proposal EPA Environmental Priorities:  Taking Action on Climate Change  Improving Air Quality  Assuring the Safety of Chemicals  Cleaning up our communities  Protecting America’s Waters  Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice  Building Strong State and Tribunal Partnerships

General Criteria  Applicants must describe how the activity will advance its mission.  A target audience for workshops and potential attendees must be identified in the proposal.  Partners and their qualifications must be provided.  Project evaluation should be included

Important Dates  Deadline: Friday, August 31 st 2012 at 5pm  Notification: Late October, 2012  Project start date: November, 2012  Final Reports Due: November,

FAQ  Are there things that are not eligible for funding? YES Construction activities Construction activities Political lobbying Political lobbying Projects already completed Projects already completed Food, refreshments and t-shirts Food, refreshments and t-shirts Budget items not central to project Budget items not central to project Fundraising, endowments, capital costs, research, etc. Fundraising, endowments, capital costs, research, etc.

FAQ Question: With a maximum request of $5000 how do proposals advance state capacity for EE? Answer: while scale may be small, projects should include key audiences, build networks for ongoing support of EE, demonstrate how it will address a state priority (beyond a specific program purpose)

FAQ Question: Can projects be more than one year? Answer: No, project timelines must be one year or less and must start after November 1, 2012 and be final reports submitted by November 1, 2013

Application Process  The Trust is piloting a new online grants management system to improve ease of the application process A new username and password is required A new username and password is required  To apply for a grant, follow instructions at: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit at least a few days prior to the deadline!

Resources Mid Atlantic Environmental Literacy Plan State Environmental Literacy Plans and EE Affiliates ftp.deq.virginia.gov/education; EPA Priority Definitions NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence in EE EE EE US Dept. of Education Green Ribbon Schools Program

Comments from our State Partners   PA Association for Env. Education (PAEE)   Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Educators (MAEOE)   Delaware Association for Environmental Education (DAEE)   DC Env. Education Consortium (DCEEC)   WV Env. Education Association (WVEEA)   VA Office of Env. Education (VOEE)

Contact Information for Additional Information/Questions Chesapeake Bay Trust Kacey Wetzel x104 Chesapeake Bay Trust Jamie Baxter x105