The CWC, in partnership with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), awards an annual round of Watershed Education Grants to schools, libraries, museums, vocational institutions and non-profit organizations in the West-of-Hudson (WOH) Watershed and in the five boroughs of New York City.
The grants are targeted to school age students and their teachers, but grants may also be available in any given year for organizations providing programs for adult and mixed-age audiences in the WOH Watershed. Applicants are advised to consult with CWC to determine guidelines and eligibility for both programs, and for information on grant opportunities provided by other agencies and organizations.
The purpose of the grant program is to support projects that emphasize the importance of the City’s water supply; the role of Watershed residents as stewards of that resource; the ecology of the WOH Watershed, the diversity of its aquatic and terrestrial life and habitat, and the unique cultural heritage of the Catskills. The importance and means of preserving water quality in the Watershed, the history of the development of the City’s vast water system, and the importance of enhancing communication and understanding among residents throughout the NYC Water Supply System are also emphasized. Click here for project evaluation guidance.
Previously funded projects have ranged from teacher training to cultural programming; service learning to climate study; field trips to stream and forest exploration. Visit the Catskills-NYC Watershed Educators Network website for information and links to programs and resources of interest to teachers and non-formal educators.
Grant applications are evaluated by a 13-member Public Education Advisory Group made up of educators and teachers from the WOH Watershed and NYC. Their award recommendations must be approved by the CWC Board of Directors and the NYC DEP.
