Summary
Pennsylvania offers a strong ecosystem of professional development, curricula, and training programs for formal and non-formal educators working on watershed and environmental topics. This page covers the key frameworks, grant programs, and training resources available to Pennsylvania educators.
PA STEELS and the MWEE Framework #
Pennsylvania’s PA STEELS (Science, Technology, and Environmental Education and Literacy Standards) framework embeds environmental literacy across all science disciplines. The Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) is a key component of PA STEELS — a learner-centered instructional framework that combines outdoor field investigations with classroom learning focused on local environmental issues. MWEEs include four essential elements: issue definition and background research, outdoor field activities, synthesis and conclusions, and stewardship and civic action projects.
The Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE) supports MWEE implementation statewide and hosts an annual professional development conference. Visit paee.net for current programs, conference information, and the MWEE Partner of Excellence and School of Excellence awards.
DEP Environmental Education Grants Program #
The PA DEP Environmental Education Grants Program, established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, sets aside 5% of pollution fines and penalties collected by DEP annually for environmental education. Since inception, more than $14 million has been awarded to over 2,200 projects statewide. Eligible applicants include schools, colleges, conservation districts, nonprofits, and businesses.
Grant tracks (2026 program): Seed Grants (up to $5,000) for local projects; Grow Grants ($5,001-$30,000) for large-scale county or regional projects; Impact Grants ($30,001-$65,000) for capacity-building projects with broad statewide reach. Priority areas include Water, Climate Change, Land Use, Air Quality, and Environmental Justice. Applications typically open in August with a November deadline. Visit pa.gov/agencies/dep/residents/environmental-education/environmental-education-grants for current program information.
Project-Based Curriculum Programs #
Several nationally recognized curriculum programs are endorsed by DEP and DCNR and are actively delivered in Pennsylvania schools:
- Project WET (Water Education Today) — Classroom-ready teaching aids promoting awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources. Facilitators deliver workshops through PA Department of Education. projectwet.org
- Project Learning Tree — Teaches students how to think about environmental issues. Workshops available through PA Department of Education. plt.org
- Project WILD — Wildlife-focused environmental education. Workshops available through the Council for Environmental Education. councilforee.org
- Project Food, Land and People (FLP) — Examines the interrelationship between agriculture, environment, and people. FLP-trained facilitators available in PA.
- Bay BackPack — Chesapeake Bay-focused materials for classroom use, aligned with PA standards.
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) #
NOAA’s B-WET program funds MWEEs and environmental literacy capacity-building throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including Pennsylvania. B-WET grants support school district programs, teacher professional development, and statewide environmental literacy networks. Penn State has received B-WET funding to support a statewide PA environmental literacy network. Visit fisheries.noaa.gov for current grant cycles.
State Agency Educator Resources #
- DEP for Teachers — Lesson plans, curricula, and workshop information. The DEP/DCNR Environmental Education and Information Center (EEIC) at the Rachel Carson State Office Building assists formal and non-formal educators. Contact [email protected]. pa.gov/agencies/dep/residents/environmental-education/teachers
- DCNR Bureau of State Parks — School, student, and community programs through state parks statewide. dcnr.pa.gov
- PA Fish and Boat Commission — Educator and student programs in aquatic ecology and fisheries. fishandboat.com
Act 48 Professional Development Credits #
Pennsylvania teachers may be able to receive Act 48 continuing education credits for participation in environmental education training programs. Contact your superintendent or school district administration to determine eligibility for specific programs.
Related Pages #
Source and Last Reviewed
Sources: PA DEP EE Grants Program (pa.gov); PAEE (paee.net); NOAA B-WET program; AMR Clearinghouse source material.
Last reviewed: 2026-03 | DEP EE Grants program details change annually — verify current cycle at pa.gov/agencies/dep/residents/environmental-education/environmental-education-grants.
Tags: education, training, practitioner, educator, pa
