BOSTON (August 23, 2022) – The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the selection of three New England organizations to receive funding for projects under the Environmental Education (EE) grants program.
The Mystic Aquarium, New Haven Ecology Project, and SoundWaters, Inc. are among 34 organizations across the country selected to receive funding through the EE Grant Program. Funding will vary between $50,000 and $100,000 to provide environmental education activities and programs.
“These EE grants support the environmental leaders of tomorrow and this year focus on creating attractive opportunities for students from historically disadvantaged communities,” said New England EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “Here in New England, $295,000 in grants will help address career development, water and air quality issues, climate change, and advance environmental justice through programs and educational activities.”
New England Recipients of 2022 Environmental Education Grants:
Sea Research Foundation Ind, d/b/a Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, CT
The Mystic Aquarium, through its conservation mentorship and career development program The Conservationists in Training (CIT), will receive $95,000 to provide underrepresented high school youth with mentorship and career experiences focused on conservation for the development of careers in water conservation, increased scientific and environmental knowledge, and skills to encourage their community to protect and restore marine resources.
New Haven Ecology Project, New Haven, CT
The New Haven Ecology Project will receive $100,000 to embed qualified environmental educators in three New Haven public schools; provide mini-grants and professional support to expand outdoor classrooms, school gardens, schoolyard habitats, educational experiences related to urban waters and land, and hire at least 45 educators to Urban Public Schools and 900 Urban Public School students located in one of New Haven’s most modest neighborhoods.
SoundWaters Inc. Stamford, CT
SoundWaters will receive $100,000 to use its 80ft teaching vessel as a floating classroom where children and parents learn about their local environment. Together with five partners who work with very poor populations in Stamford, Norwalk and Greenwich, CT, they will engage with 805 children and adults who would otherwise have little access to Long Island Sound. Plans include water quality testing and encountering a wide variety of Long Island Sound animals. Bilingual educational videos and communications will complete the learning process.
Since 1992, the EPA has distributed between $2 million and $3.5 million in EE grants each year, for a total of more than $88.3 million supporting more than 3,890 projects. The program traditionally provides financial support to projects that design, demonstrate or disseminate environmental education practices, methods or techniques.
More information:
Summaries of each project, winners, and information on how to apply for future EE grant competitions
Environmental Education at EPA