This project provides funding to the grantee to implement its project, which will design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, and techniques, that will serve to…

Grant Award Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 awarded Mason Conservation District $106,666 under the Environmental Education Grants Program (CFDA 66.951) on June 1, 2025, for a project extending through February 28, 2027. The grant funds a comprehensive environmental education initiative in Mason County, Washington, designed to increase environmental literacy among K-12 students, teachers, and community members. The project delivers outdoor learning experiences at local natural areas and businesses, coupled with classroom-based instruction, to build student connections to the local environment and industries dependent on healthy ecosystems, including salmon, shellfish, and forestry operations. Key educational activities include field visits, shellfish dissection exercises, macroinvertebrate surveys, and cultural connection activities that engage students in hands-on exploration of local environmental issues while developing career-relevant skills in environmental fields.

To support program implementation, Mason Conservation District will distribute six subawards to nonprofit organizations and school districts to facilitate student visits and outdoor learning activities. The project emphasizes education on water quality, sustainable resource management, and air quality impacts on human health and ecosystems, while incorporating indigenous knowledge and encouraging voluntary community actions to protect the local environment. Through these integrated activities, the grant seeks to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed environmental decisions and take responsible stewardship actions.

This project provides funding to the grantee 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 mason county, washington. This project funds activities for many K - 12 students in mason county to visit and engage in outdoor learning experiences at local natural areas and businesses and classroom-based learning. Collectively, these experiences build student connections to the local environment and local industries that depend on healthy ecosystems (e.g. salmon and shellfish industries and forestry). The students will be able to explore and consider careers in environmental fields. The grant will educate students and the community about water quality and sustainable resource management and enhance understanding of poor air quality impacts on human health and local ecosystems. The grant project underscores the importance of natural resource management, encouraging voluntary actions to protect and enhance the local environment, and acknowledging and integrating indigenous knowledge. Activities:this project will increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues in mason county, washington and provide students and teachers the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions. Activities to be performed during this project period include educational visits to local natural areas and businesses, participate in many outdoor learning experiences from shellfish dissection to macroinvertebrate surveys and cultural connection to the land, and build career-relevant skills. Subrecipient:the sub-grant program will enable the grantee to give six subawards to identified non-profit organizations or school districts to help with the local natural area and business visits and outdoor learning activities for the students.outcomes:IT is anticipated that this project will result in the following deliverables: providing a range of hands-on experiences and classroom-based learning for all grade levels including field trips and outdoor activities designed to heighten awareness of local environmental issues and nurture a stronger bond between students and the natural world. Expected outcomes of the project include below: (SHORT-TERM) - a percentage of students reporting heightened awareness of local environmental issues. (MEDIUM-TERM) - increase in the number of hours dedicated to environmental education in schools. (LONG-TERM) - students actively participating in LONG-TERM resource efficiency and environmental initiatives within their communities. The intended beneficiaries will be 3,350 students, 100 teachers and 50 community members in mason county, washington.