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Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Nearly $700,000 to Support Outdoor and Classroom Learning on the Chesapeake Bay

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $692,918 to support environmental education programs that provide students the opportunity to learn about the importance of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in both outdoor and classroom settings. This federal funding is through the NOAA Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) grant program.

“Young Americans hold the keys to a better future for our planet. That’s why providing hands-on experiences for students to learn about our environment and its stewardship is so important. Through these environmental education programs, students will also have the opportunity to explore one of Maryland’s greatest natural treasures – the Chesapeake Bay. Team Maryland will continue to support these projects that help students get outdoors to investigate and see firsthand the environmental stresses our planet is facing,” said the lawmakers. 

Awards include:

  • $299,468 for the Paleontological Research Institution to support its initiative titled, “A Watershed of Trees: A MWEE to Engage Students at the Intersection of Forest, Water, Climate, and Environmental Stewardship”
  • $200,000 for the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Educators to support the Maryland Environmental Literacy Advisory Network
  • $193,450 for the National Career Technical Education Foundation to support its project titled, “Developing a Statewide Framework for Incorporating Environmental Literacy in Career Technical Education" 

The lawmakers worked to secure an increase in federal funds for the B-WET program through fiscal year 2022 appropriations to help school districts provide teachers with relevant training and students with outdoor and classroom learning experiences to explore local environmental issues.