AEP Access to Environmental Education Mini-Grant Funding

AEP Access to Environmental Education Fund

The AEP Access to Environmental Education Fund is a permanent grantmaking endowment held at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio for the purpose of supporting environmental education efforts benefiting youth who live in the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio. The Fund encourages and supports creative, local environmental education and stewardship activities that build on the unique assets and strengths of the region’s individual communities.

Eligibility

Applications are invited from educators and 501(c)(3) community organizations throughout the 32 county region of Appalachian Ohio. Those who might find interest in applying include public school science and vocational agriculture classes, and youth service clubs such as 4-H, Future Farmers of America, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Big Brothers Big Sisters or Key Clubs. As appropriate, applications to support youth-focused efforts of local government, civic clubs and nonprofits working with youth, including county farm bureaus, city parks and recreation departments, soil and water conservation districts, community colleges, rotary international, and others, may also wish to apply.

Eligible educators and community organizations must be serving one or more of the following counties:  Adams, Ashtabula, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mahoning, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington.

Project Scope

FAO seeks applications from public school and community organizations for projects providing opportunities for youth to participate in learning experiences linked to local natural resources, and which enable youth to share lessons learned with the broader community. Funding is intended to encourage and support creative, local environmental education and stewardship activities that build on the unique assets and strengths of individual communities. 

FAO strongly encourages projects providing experiential learning that draw upon Appalachian Ohio’s unique natural and cultural resources. For example, mini-grants might support: fieldtrips to The Wilds, hikes in the Wayne National Forest after study of Ora Anderson’s reforestation documentary, youth-hosted community “river sweeps” in conjunction with Ohio River study, or planting community gardens.

Further, as a part of each grant, youth will be required to share what they learn with the broader community through outreach such as public events, presentations and displays and/or media engagement.  For example, groups might host a community hike, create educational signage for a local park, prepare a report for their newspaper, give a presentation to other students, or prepare a booth at the county fair or public library.

Project Period

Funding for the AEP Access to Environmental Education Mini-Grants is currently closed, please check back in late Fall or sign up for the Foundation's e-newsletter.