Deadline for District’s Blue School Grant Program extended to September 11th

Extension due to Hurricane Dorian school closures

From the St. John's River Water Management District

The St. Johns River Water Management District has extended the application period for Blue School Grant project proposals to Sept. 11 due to school closures caused by Hurricane Dorian.

Now entering the fourth year of its Blue School Grant Program, the district anticipates offering up to $20,000 in grants for education projects that enhance student knowledge of Florida’s water resources through hands-on learning.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11. Applications should be submitted online at www.sjrwmd.com/education/blue-school/grants/.

Up to $2,000 per teacher per school will be awarded to middle and high school teachers to enhance student knowledge of Florida’s water resources. Public and charter school teachers within the district’s boundaries are eligible to apply.

Grants may be awarded in three areas: freshwater resources field study, water-conserving landscape projects, or water conservation community/school awareness campaigns.

Examples of successful grant applications include:

Water quality comparison of stormwater ponds on campus

Field trip to Silver Springs for soil and water sampling

Water unit in senior English class where students learned about water scarcity and created informative diagrams, flyers, and presentations for the community

Field trips to organic and conventional farms

Seagrass restoration project

Water conservation awareness posters and video

Teachers receiving grants will be notified on Oct. 1.

For more information, contact Jennifer Mitchell, education coordinator, at jmitchell@sjrwmd.com or 904-730-6283.

About the St. Johns River Water Management District

St. Johns River Water Management District staff are committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the district and the state of Florida. The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida managing groundwater and surface water supplies in the state. The district encompasses all or part of 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff also are available to serve the public at service centers in Maitland, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay.