The Onondaga Lake Partnership (OLP) is accepting applications from teachers for small grants for classroom and field projects to educate students about the environment of Onondaga Lake, its tributaries and watershed.

 See what other schools have done with funds from this program.
Click for a printable copy of this announcement.
See the newest Ed Fund report at its own web page.

Eligible projects may include but are not limited to:

• Support for classroom projects, after school activities, field work, and summer programs. Subject areas may include science, social studies, history, English, art and others.
• Supplies for science activities, such as water quality monitoring, biological assessments, invasive species eradication, water pollution studies, and clean-up events.
• Materials for environmental education projects with aspects of Onondaga Lake and/or its watershed (science, environmental journalism, or nature photography).
• Fees for classroom speakers, field trip guides, or museum visits.
• Transportation for class visits or field trips.

Requirements

Applicant must be a teacher in a private or public school (pre-school through high school) in a township or other jurisdiction within or contiguous with the Onondaga Lake Watershed. The following jurisdictions are considered "within or contiguous with the Onondaga Lake Watershed." This includes the Towns of Scott and Preble in Cortland County and all towns within Onondaga County except the Town of Pompey and Town of Fabius.
Click here for a map showing the Onondaga Lake watershed.

The teacher and the school principal must sign the application. Applications may also be submitted by email from the school principal.

Teacher may request up to $500 for each project. Applications are being considered as they are received. Individual teachers may receive multiple awards not to exceed a total of $500 each school year.

Application must include a detailed description of the proposed project and how it will enhance students' education about the environment of Onondaga Lake, its tributaries and/or watershed.

The project must be completed within 6 months of funding date (date payment check is executed). Upon completion of the project, a certification that the project was completed must be signed by the teacher and principal and submitted. The certification will include a brief summary of the work completed and documentation of all expenditures, among other items. Any funds not spent must be returned upon project completion.

Application procedures

Click here for an application form to print.
Click for a printable copy of this announcement.

The Onondaga Environmental Institute (OEI) is administering the Environmental Education Fund on behalf of OLP.

• A completed application must be signed by the teacher and the school principal and submitted to the OEI at the following address:
   
     Onondaga Environmental Institute
     102 West Division St., 3rd floor
     Syracuse, NY 13204
     Attn: Lindsay Speer, OLP Environmental Education Fund
• Applications must be submitted in hard copy. To expedite processing, applications may also be submitted by email from the school principal, subject line: "Attn: OLP Environmental Education Fund Application." (Click here for email.)
• OLP anticipates that up to $5000 will be awarded for Environmental Education Fund grants during each school year.
• Applications will be reviewed on a first-come first-served basis, to assure proposed projects and expenses meet the eligibility requirements listed above.
• If a positive determination is made regarding eligibility, applicants can expect to receive a check for expenses within 6 weeks of OEI's receipt of the application.
• Applicants will be notified within 6 weeks of applications determined to be ineligible.

Teachers may contact Lindsay Speer at the OEI with any questions regarding the OLP Environmental Education Fund (315-472-2150 x25), or click here to email.

Project completion requirements

Upon project completion, teachers are required to send a final report of the project to OEI. Reports should include the following:

• A signed Certification of Project Completion. (Click here for printable form.)
• A short summary of your project
• An itemized accounting of how the project money was spent, including copies of receipts or invoices accompanied by a returned check
• Copies of any printed materials and/or other media produced
• Photographs of project-related events and activities, with the understanding that any photos given to the OEI could be used by the OLP or the OEI in future newsletters or displays
• Copies of signed OLP model release forms for any human subjects pictured in the photographs. (Included with above Certification form.)

Additional information

Information is available pertaining to the Onondaga Lake Partnership, the Onondaga Lake Watershed, and Onondaga Lake is available at the following websites:
 
 Onondaga Lake Partnership
Onondaga County Onondaga Lake projects.

Curriculum guides, lesson plans, and other educational materials are available through the Onondaga Environmental Institute.
 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides funding for the OLP Environmental Education Fund.