The Superior Watershed Partnership is inviting Upper Peninsula educators to apply for grants for forestry-based outdoor educational opportunities. Money can go toward outdoor activities, professional development and other activities. (Photo courtesy of SWP)

MARQUETTE — Superior Watershed Partnership is offering grants to educators across the Upper Peninsula looking to expand or develop forestry-based outdoor educational opportunities for students.

SWP announced that a total of $17,500 is available for educator grants; the maximum award per educator is $1,000. Funding can be used for outdoor education efforts including: native trees/shrubs/plants, hands-on activities, outdoor field experiences, educator professional development, environmental education resources and more.

“SWP Environmental Education Grants will help provide resources to educators that promote hands-on, place-based experiences for students through forestry-based educational programming,” said Kathleen Henry, SWP special projects coordinator and education specialist, in an email. “With this funding, educators will be able to integrate and prioritize climate education in new and exciting ways.”

Priority will be given to projects focused on forest-based programming benefiting the Great Lakes watershed. Funded projects should include an educational component about the crucial role that trees play in climate adaptation, climate mitigation or community resiliency.

SWP received funding from the USDA Forest Service Eastern Region State and Private Forestry Landscape Scale Restoration Program to collaboratively protect and restore priority forest landscapes across the U.P.

The program is a Forest Service state and private forestry competitive grant program that promotes collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes and furthers priorities identified in state forest action plans or equivalent restoration strategy, the Forest Service said on its website. Landscape Scale Restoration projects cross multiple jurisdictions, including tribal, state and local government, and private forest land, to address large-scale issues such as wildfire risk reduction, watershed protection and restoration, and the spread of invasive species, insect infestation and disease.

Through a combination of public outreach, education and small-scale forestry restoration projects, K-12 students, the Great Lakes Climate Corps and community volunteers will engage in what the SWP called “meaningful” environmental education efforts, providing immediate ecosystem benefits within three Great Lakes watersheds.

All U.P. schools/educators are eligible for funding. Educators interested in applying for SWP grant funds should complete the application, found at bit.ly/3tTPqzD, by April 30. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants will be asked to share the location where the project will occur, and if the project will incorporate an outdoor component, to be as specific as possible.

They also will be asked to include a brief budget and to distinguish how many students will directly participate versus the number of students who may participate or benefit in the long term. Projects should be completed by spring, summer or fall of this year.

Contact kathleen@superiorwatersheds.org for more information about the grant opportunity and transportation funding.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.