The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is proud to announce the awardees of the 2024-2025 Bureau of Land Management Greening STEM Grant.
Since 2020, NEEF has collaborated with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to fund Greening STEM Demonstration Projects for middle and high school students using components of NEEF’s Greening STEM model to design and deliver STEM programming at BLM field sites across the country.
Through these Greening STEM grants, BLM and NEEF aim to further their shared STEM education objectives by offering participants authentic STEM experiences rooted in environmental engagement and BLM’s mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for current and future generations.
Programs funded by these grants will incorporate STEM-focused content and strategies for instruction, training, and collaboration to support educators and staff in enhancing learning both inside and outside the classroom, with a strong emphasis on BLM-related topics.
“Along with our partners at the Bureau of Land Management, we are proud to support these exemplary environmental education projects that will introduce students to hands-on, place-based STEM learning through the Greening STEM model,” said Megan Willig, program manager for K-12 environmental education at NEEF.
For examples of successful past projects, check out NEEF’s collection of Greening STEM project videos and educational resources.
The following projects have been selected to receive up to $15,000 each in Greening STEM grant funding:
Institutionalizing STEM at Catalpa, Our Outdoor Learning Lab
- Public Land Site: McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (NCA)
- Grantee: Colorado Canyons Association (CCA)
- Location: Grand Junction, CO
Since 2018, Colorado Canyons Association (CCA) has used its riverside education camp, Catalpa, as an outdoor classroom for place-based learning. In 2021, funding from NEEF's Greening STEM initiative supported a student river trip project that targeted the invasive Russian Knapweed using biological controls.
This new round of funding will enable CCA and BLM to expand and institutionalize the program and partnerships for long-term success. Once established, the program will be introduced to additional students participating in river education trips. Over 200 students visit Catalpa Camp annually; with a formal monitoring protocol, this STEM initiative will be extended to more students in the region. Unlike projects aimed at younger students, this program engages older students in the complexities of large-scale restoration efforts.
Swan Falls Outdoor Natural Science & Idaho Master Naturalist Class
- Public Land Site: Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA)
- Grantee: Birds of Prey NCA Partnership
- Location: Boise, ID
In fall 2024, Kuna/Swan Falls High School will launch an Idaho Master Naturalist course taught by a certified instructor. This program, the first of its kind at a public high school, will immerse students in Idaho’s natural history and resources through community engagement, citizen science projects, and conservation education.
The course will involve professionals and field scientists connecting students to the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA). This project will include school visits with ambassador birds and field trips for wildlife monitoring and habitat restoration, providing students with hands-on STEM learning and career exploration opportunities.
Fostering Environmental Stewardship Through Citizen Science
- Public Land Site: Montana Audubon Center
- Grantee: Montana Audubon
- Location: Helena, MT
This project aims to engage high-school students (Grades 11-12) in immersive STEM activities centered on BLM’s pollinator and invasive species monitoring protocols on public lands and the Montana Audubon Center’s 54 acres of reclaimed land. These activities, integrated into environmental science curricula, aim to deepen students' understanding of ecological systems and conservation practices.
The project aims to achieve this through hands-on STEM engagement, applying science standards in practical contexts, encouraging local environmental exploration, and fostering collaboration between schools and BLM-managed areas.
A Day in the Desert
- Public Land Site: Virgin River Campground
- Grantee: Arizona Strip District Office, BLM
- Location: St. George, UT
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is collaborating with Sunrise Ridge Intermediate School's seventh-grade science team to “stretch” STEM education. BLM staff will conduct three school visits and organize a field trip to the BLM's Virgin River Campground. Students will engage in data collection at various stations aligned with the science curriculum.
The project includes partnerships with the Shivwits Tribe, Utah Tech, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, and Washington County Water Conservancy District, providing diverse presenters to lead activity stations. This initiative integrates outdoor fieldwork with data analysis, offering targeted ecological learning experiences and fostering community engagement.
Monarchs and Milkweed Mapping in Eastern Washington
- Public Land Site: Wenatchee Valley
- Grantee: Environment for the Americas
- Location: Boulder, CO
In 2022, BLM, in collaboration with Team Naturaleza and the Wenatchee School District (WSD), received a NEEF Greening STEM grant for hummingbird education, marking BLM's inaugural STEM initiative with schools in North Central Washington. This project introduces the "For Monarchs" Citizen Science program to middle school students (Grades 6-8) in Wenatchee, Washington. With Western Monarch populations declining sharply since the late 1990s, particularly in 2018 and 2020, the initiative aims to raise awareness among WSD students about the monarch's plight, emphasizing eastern Washington's crucial role as habitat.
Team Naturaleza, along with BLM and WSD Middle School After School Programs, will collaborate on engaging students in classroom sessions led by BLM specialists who will share current research and discuss conservation careers. BLM staff will also facilitate field visits to BLM-managed lands, guiding students in monarch and habitat exploration activities. Additionally, BLM will assist with data analysis and community presentations to showcase student learning and the project's outcomes.
Discovery Hill Trails Accessibility Study
- Public Land Site: Discovery Hill Trail System
- Grantee: Salmon Valley Stewardship
- Location: Salmon, ID
This project will engage students (Grades 8-12) from Salmon Jr./Sr. High School and FernWaters Public Charter School in the Salmon School District #291, partnering with Salmon Valley Stewardship (SVS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Salmon Field Office. SVS and BLM will collaborate to develop trail inventory assessment protocols, training students and staff in data collection techniques at the Discovery Hill Trail System.
This initiative expands BLM's outdoor education beyond traditional natural resource stewardship to include citizen science and STEM components, providing students with hands-on learning experiences that bridge classroom learning with real-world applications in environmental conservation and public land management.