The Arkansas Environmental Education Association is soliciting proposals of up to $500 for AEEA’s Environmental and Outdoor Education Mini-grant Program. The program is designed to support, enhance, and expand the implementation of environmental and outdoor education throughout the state of Arkansas by classroom teachers and non-formal educators and organizations. AEEA funds projects that include, but are not limited to, direct hands-on education programs, educator professional development, and community engagement events.
For more on environmental education, see https://arkansasee.org/what-is-ee/.
AEEA committed to supporting efforts across The Natural State that expand and enrich environmental and outdoor education opportunities.
Grant Eligibility Requirements:
- Proposals must be submitted for consideration in either formal education or non-formal education
- Formal education includes educational projects and activities conducted by school personnel at PreK, elementary, secondary, or college level.
- Non-formal education includes educational projects and activities led by an organization other than a school, such as a nature center, government agency, non-profit organization, or community/civic organization.
- Eligible entities include schools, government agencies, and 501(c)3 registered non-profit organizations.
- Proposals must demonstrate the connection between the project objectives and environmental education
- Completed proposals must be received by AEEA by the stated deadline.
- Grant funds must be used within the calendar year of the award.
- Funds may be combined with other sources of funds to increase the size or impact of the project.
Areas of Focus:
- Environmental education in a school, non-formal education, or community setting
- Outdoor education in a school, non-formal education, or community setting
- Community education engagement around an environmental issue of local concern (project should have an education focus, not an advocacy focus)
- Positive youth development and environmental or outdoor education
- Educator professional development in environmental and outdoor education
Timeline:
- Applications open Tuesday, September 2, 2025
- Deadline for applications is Friday, October 17, 2025
- Award notification announced by Friday, December 5, 2025
- Funds will be distributed in January 2026
- Final grant report due to AEEA by January 31, 2027