2026 Series: Environmental Education
By Sara Windjue, Leadership and Capacity Development Specialist, Extension Lakes
Want to inspire, engage, and activate people in your community to take action for our waters? Include environmental education (EE) in your WDNR Surface Water Education Grant application to help raise awareness and create positive change! In our last issue, we introduced the five tenets of EE and how they can spark community interest in your local waterways. Let’s use those ideas to strengthen your grant application, and more importantly, create lasting change in your community.
Did you know?
The Surface Water Education Grant ranking sheets can help you understand the criteria and improve your application. These are found in the appendices of the Surface Water Grant guidance document published each year and linked from the Wisconsin DNR Surface Water Grants page.
Think Holistically
A thoughtful, layered approach that is clearly explained in your proposal (not just a list of activities) takes time but will help strengthen your proposal and ensure the education you provide really makes a difference. Remember to consult the Five Tenets of Environmental Education.
- RAISE AWARENESS – All education starts here. Be sure to describe how you will raise awareness of an issue. Consider showing examples or comparisons.
- INCREASE KNOWLEDGE – Build on the awareness gained and begin to introduce new concepts. Brainstorm fun activities that get people learning while they’re with you, but also while they’re at home with their families or friends.
- IDENTIFY VALUES – Describe how you will help people understand what they value and why. This will require you to research how values can be identified through educational programming.
- DEVELOP SKILLS – If your project includes skill building, explain what skills you want the participants to develop and why they are important. How will this help change behavior?
- TAKE ACTION – Explain what you want your audience to ultimately do with their new knowledge, values, and skills.
Now you are ready to write a strong grant application using the following tips.
Make Your Project Impact Clear
(Grant section: Project Impact)
Fully explain why this topic is important to the environment, to people, and to the economy. Assume that those reviewing the grant do not understand why the topic is important. Research what others have done and what has worked. Reference these projects and why you intend to replicate a past project or do something different.
Design with People in Mind
(Grant section: Project Design)
How will your project provide engaging, in-person education or outreach? Not all audiences learn the same way and your proposal should reflect that.
Think through these questions and include the answers in your proposal:
- Are you trying to reach children, families, adults, or all three? Each audience may need a different engagement method.
- How many people will you realistically engage? Why did you choose this number and how will you reach it?
- Will you be providing the education or partnering with an experienced educator? Consider working with your local school district or college; students training to become teachers are great partners.
- Will the education be online, in-person, or both? Details matter; describe how long each event will last, where it will take place, and how often.
- If your project includes an electronic component, how will you engage people with your content?
Build More Than a Project, Build Capacity
(Grant section: Capacity Focus)
Describe how your organization will develop or enhance partnerships while getting things done. Since capacity is a big area, decide how your activities will focus on strengthening membership, internal functions, external relationships, or programs. Explain how your activities will improve the capacity area you choose to focus on and show how you will measure success. Pre- and post-surveys, participation numbers, or new partnerships can all help show your growth.
Turn Funding into Lasting Change
A strong grant proposal does more than check boxes. It shows how your project will move people from awareness to action.