Get ‘Em Outside Mini-Grant Program
MEEA’s “Get Em Outside Mini-Grant” program celebrates the power of environmental education by supporting educators in their efforts to get participants outside. Grants of up to $500 can be used for projects, supplies, transportation and more. With this funding, MEEA aims to foster excellence in environmental education across the state. This mini-grant program began in memory of Emerson Juliette Graham and aims to inspire youth and adults alike to learn about and care for the natural world.
Mini-grant applications open in late fall with winners being announced early in the new year and celebrated at the next Annual Conference.
The opening and closing dates will be May 24-July 31 and winners will be announced by August 26th, 2024.
2023 Winners
Montana Wetlands and Waterfowl
The goal of the Wild Waterfowl Workshop is to allow students to participate in real scientific research in their community. This project is centered around hen houses, a manufactured nest for waterfowl hens. Hen houses significantly improve the likelihood of nest success, meaning more ducklings. In addition to our education programming, we are building these hen houses with students in the classroom. The hen houses will be installed in local wetlands in early spring. In late spring, students will take a field trip to the site of the hen house. There, we will participate in various activities including monitoring the hen house for nesting birds, bird watching, and plant identification (plant bingo). With these efforts, we hope to excite students about scientific research in their community.
Pioneer School
Pioneer Elementary School offers a unique and outstanding educational start for young children, preparing them for the breadth and depth of learning opportunities that await them. We have a full array of classroom technology tools that help to transform students learning; creating new possibilities for exploring and sharing knowledge. In addition, our curriculum and programs support social and emotional growth, strengthening our mission to help all students become successful learners, caring individuals, and responsible citizens. Surrounded by over 630 acres of the John H. Dover Park, Pioneer School has direct access to the natural- area green space along the Yellowstone River and what will be the rehabilitated gravel mine to include lakes, wetlands, meadows, and trails. Through our unique Outdoor Learning Program, our school community creates a laboratory for outdoor learning which amplifies the outcomes of public education, serves learners of all abilities and needs, fosters a deep connection to the environment, and prepares students for success in school and life.
Earth Sciences Foundation Inc
This program is designed as an outreach program to engage young people in the world of earth sciences. We will work with schools, museums, informal after school programs, and other institutions to bring geosciences to young people to get them to pursue degrees in science. We will create presentations to be given to groups of young people to talk about what we do as scientists and as professionals, offer mentorship to those wishing to engage further, as well as offer opportunities to go on field trips and out in the field to interact with geosciences. Our goal is to get them interested in geosciences and keep them interested so they can become the next generation of earth scientist. We also approach other organizations to partner with to increase our reach and engagement through a network of organizations with similar missions as ours. We will offer this program at a minimal cost to schools and organizations to make sure we do what we can to make the opportunity available to as many young people as possible.
2021 Winners
- Self-Guided Tour of the Battlefield- Big Hole National Battlefield
- Student-Run Wildlife Habitat- Missoula County Public Schools (Hawthorne Elementary School)
- Montana Audubon Center Partnership- Crow Agency
- Audubon Naturalist in the Schools program – Montana Audubon Center
2020 Winners
- Browning High School – Wild Clays Program
- Montana Discovery Foundation- Orienteering SnowSchool Program
- Absarokee High Sky- Bats in Our Backyard
2019 Winners
- Montana Natural History Center – STEEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, ENVIRONMENT, Math)
- Echo Lake Trail Association
- Swan Valley Connections
- Wolf Point Elementary School
2018 Winners
- Gardiner Public Schools
- Crow Agency Public School
- Miles Community College
- Blackfoot Challenge
- Frenchtown School
- Absarokee High School
- Learn Inc. Missoula
2017 Winners
- Montana Natural History Center
- Seeley Swan High School
- Clark Fork Watershed Education Network
- Blackfoot Challenge
2016 Winners
- Montana Outdoor Science School. Snow School
- Ronan School. Montana Natural History Center Visiting Naturalist in the Schools Program
- Gallatin Valley Farm to School. Seed to Snack Garden Explorer Camp
- Linderman Elementary. Big Creek Discovery School with The Glacier Institute
- Helena Homeschool Enrichment Co-op: Life Science Seminar
Apply
The mini-grant applicants should highlight how funds received will enhance students’ connection with a sense of place and hands-on learning experiences. Grant amounts vary from year to year and are made possible by proceeds from our annual conference auction.
Montana schools, homeschools, tribal entities, nonprofit organizations, and tax-exempt government agencies are eligible to apply. Educators at these organizations are encouraged to apply, either individually or with a team. MEEA membership is not required to apply, but we request that those selected for a grant become members.
