The Environmental Trust [1]is calling for applications to the Eco Schools Program [2].

Aim of the program

This program provides grants to schools to give them the opportunity to involve their students and community in developing and implementing environmental management projects.

Objectives

The overall objective of the Eco Schools Program [2]is to support schools to develop best practice in environmental education and innovative solutions to environmental issues.

The program will fund school environmental management projects aimed at one or more of the objectives below.

Students:

• to promote the development of students' knowledge, values and behaviour that supports environmental sustainability
• to promote participation of some or all students in identifying, designing, implementing and monitoring solutions that improve the quality of the school and local environment.

Teachers:

• to assist teachers to integrate school environmental management projects into school programs and therefore maximise student learning
• to enable project related professional learning for teachers to gain practical and pedagogical skills and knowledge about the environment.

School development and management:

• to encourage a whole of school approach to  sustainable management of school operations
• to fund schools to utilise the natural and built environment to facilitate student learning
• to encourage schools to link with the local community (including other schools) to undertake activities which address local environmental issues.

Environment:

• to promote more efficient resource use and  improve the quality of the local environment
• to enable schools to address community and government environmental concerns and priorities.

The ultimate goal of the Eco Schools Grant Program is the development of environmentally sustainable schools.

Eligibility

Schools that did not receive an Environmental Trust grant in the previous year are eligible to apply. Schools must also be registered on the Sustainable Schools NSW website [3]. Please note that preschools are not eligible to apply. 

Funding for 2011

A total of $150,000 is available for the Eco Schools Program (60 grants of $2,500 each).

More information

For more information, visit the Trust's website at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/schools.htm [2]