Educator Funding

We welcome educators to use these opportunities to fund educational experiences about New York City’s watershed and environment. Be sure to check out Resources for Educators for lesson plan and activity ideas. For more information, contact educationoffice@dep.nyc.gov.

Watershed Education Grants

Proposals are due Friday, February 7, 2020

The Catskill Watershed Corporation is now accepting Watershed Education Grant proposals from schools and non-profit organizations serving students and teachers in the New York City West-of-Hudson Watershed and within the five boroughs of New York City.

Proposals must focus on education projects and programs that help increase awareness of the:

  • Human and natural history of the West of Hudson Watershed and the New York City Water Supply System
  • Critical role of communities in caring for water quality in the watershed
  • Importance of water conservation and other stewardship activities
  • History and contemporary use and operation of the vast water system
  • Cultural and biological diversity of the city’s West of Hudson Watershed
  • Causes and impacts of flooding and climate change
  • Applicants may also choose from among several Special Options, including Trout in the Classroom and performances of City that Drinks the Mountain Sky.

Visit the CWC Watershed Education Grants to learn more about the guidelines and application. You can also visit the Catskills-NYC Watershed Educators Network to learn about additional classroom resources and educational programs.

Watershed Forestry Bus Tour Program

Applications are due Friday, January 3, 2020

The Watershed Agricultural Council’s Forestry Program, in partnership with DEP, is offering grants of up to $3,000 for watershed and forestry-related field trips to the New York City water supply watersheds, east and west of the Hudson River. Programs can be for single day or overnight trips.

The program is designed to connect New York City youth and adults with their water supply system. Grants are available to schools for 4th–12th grade student trips, youth groups, and other organizations within New York City or the Catskill/Delaware and Croton watersheds.

Grant recipients can travel to the watersheds to stand alongside reservoirs; hike forest trails, learn about forestry management and make comparisons to urban forestry issues; visit museums and historical sites; monitor watershed streams, conduct stewardship activities, release trout; and meet watershed residents and our staff to learn about water supply operations, watershed protection and careers.

For an application and guidelines, please visit the Watershed Agricultural Council.