2025 Chesapeake Bay watershed education grants supports Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is now accepting applications for Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience grants through March 5. A total of $250,000 in funding is anticipated. 

The annual state program is administered by DCR’s Office of Environmental Education. In 2024, $382,421 was awarded to 14 recipients, serving more than 15,400 students and 425 educators. 

The projects, known as MWEEs, are intended to encourage K-12 students to think critically about Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay watershed and cultivate environmental literacy. They are learner-centered experiences, such as field investigations and action projects, that are aligned with grade-level standards and focus on local environmental issues.  

There is no minimum funding request amount; the maximum request is $45,000. The awards are for the 2025-26 school year. 

Eligible applicants include: 

• School divisions 
• Non-profit organizations 
• Higher education institutions 
• State agencies 
• Soil and water conservation districts 

Visit this page for the application and instructions: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/environmental-education/funding-opportunities. Applications are due via email no later than March 5 at 5 p.m. 

As a signatory to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, Virginia is committed to increasing “understanding of the watershed through participation in teacher-supported, meaningful watershed educational experiences and rigorous, inquiry-based instruction.” 

For more information, email EnvironmentalEducation@dcr.virginia.gov.