This project provides funding to the university of houston system to implement its project, which will design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, and…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 awarded $116,260 to the University of Houston System through the Environmental Education Grants Program (CFDA 66.951) effective August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2027. The award funds an environmental education initiative designed to increase environmental literacy and promote sustainable behaviors among students, teachers, and families in the Houston, Texas area. The University of Houston System will deliver five four-day teacher training programs on water quality sampling, conduct 20 student workshops covering topics such as the water cycle, stormwater runoff, conservation practices, and environmental careers, and facilitate four field trips to urban lakes and watersheds that incorporate student-led projects focused on nutrient pollution and watershed management.

The grantee will distribute five subawards to local education agencies to support program implementation, with funds directed toward teacher participation stipends and school expenses for field trips including transportation costs. This structure ensures broad reach across multiple schools while reducing barriers to teacher and student participation in the training programs and field-based learning experiences. The project emphasizes building participants' capacity to make informed environmental decisions and take responsible action within their communities.

This project provides funding to the university of houston system to implement its project, which will design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, and techniques, that will serve to increase environmental literacy and encourage behavior that will benefit the environment in houston, texas. The grantee will do this by providing a four-day teacher training program on soil and water quality sampling; providing 20 sessions to students on topics including the water cycle, stormwater runoff, conservation projects, and environmental careers; and conducting four field trips with students in urban lakes and watersheds that include facilitating student-led projects.activities:this project will increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues in houston, texas and provide students, teachers and families the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions. Activities to be performed during this project period include: five four-day teacher training programs conducted on water quality sampling; 20 student workshops conducted on water cycle, stormwater runoff, conservation practices, and environmental careers; and four field trips conducted with students and teachers at urban lakes and watersheds on nutrient pollution, watershed pollution, and student-led projects.subrecipient:the recipient will provide five subawards to local education agencies that are served through this program by the recipient with teacher training programs, student workshops, and field trips. The subawards will go towards teacher participation stipends and support school expenses for field trips. The subawards will encourage teacher participation in the teaching training program. The subawards will also enable teachers and students to participate in the field trips by supporting costs such as bus costs.outcomes:IT is anticipated that this project will result in the following deliverables: five four-day teacher training programs conducted, 25 teachers trained, 20 student workshops conducted, four field trips conducted with students and teachers, 600 students positively impacted through student workshops and/or field trips, and quarterly progress reports submitted. Expected outcomes of the project include: more teachers incorporating water cycle education into their teaching, increased environmental stewardship of teachers and students, increased student understanding of water quality issues, and more students choosing environmental careers. The intended beneficiaries include students, teachers and families in houston, texas.