Environmental Education 2021 Request for Environmental and Outdoor Learning Movement Infrastructure Projects
Overview
In September 2021, the Environmental Education Program announced its second open request for projects. This RFP was designed to build movement infrastructure for environmental and outdoor learning across states and regions, that is the relationships and shared tools that empower people and organizations to work together. These grants help answer a call from educators, practitioners, researchers, funders, and more for additional support to connect, strengthen, and amplify environmental and outdoor learning across the United States. Pisces awarded grants to non-profit organizations and their collaborators building a movement for equitable and culturally relevant environmental and outdoor learning. These backbone organizations are building shared tools and relationships for effective advocacy, equity & culturally relevancy, funding, the knowledge base, the Rethink Outside shared narrative, and standards of practice.
Process
Pisces accepted concept notes during September and October 2021. Pisces staff and the external Advisory Council reviewed 178 submissions from 59 states and territories for eligibility, alignment, and fit with the RFP goals. The top projects were invited for full proposals in February 2022. Pisces awarded grants in May, to begin in June 2022.
Awardees
- Center for Diversity & the Environment
Purpose: To grow a diverse and inclusive regional network and community of leaders who have the knowledge, support, and agency to bring about a more equitable and culturally expansive environmental education movement.
- Center for Native American Youth
Purpose: Through the Cante Tinza Fellowship, to address the representation gap and inequities facing Indigenous People and youth in the fight for climate justice and education.
- Kupu
Purpose: To inspire and prepare students to meet the future demands of natural resource professions in Hawai‘i by building a collaboration between educators and industry professionals, resulting in a connected system of frameworks, tools, resources, and programs.
- La Semilla Food Center
Purpose: Through a relational, culturally-rooted story mapping process in the Paso del Norte region, to develop shared narrative and community sourced digital knowledge products that enhance outdoor education for youth across the Chihuahuan Desert bioregion.
- NAAEE Affiliate Network
Purpose: To develop a fund to support individual NAAEE Affiliates and the Affiliate Network as a whole.