Michigan Schools to Receive $156K for Freshwater Literacy Programs
New state grants will fund student-led water stewardship projects and provide transportation for K-12 field trips to Michigan’s Great Lakes and inland waterways.
Michigan environmental leaders have announced approximately $156,000 in new grant funding designed to bolster freshwater literacy and expand access to real-world learning for K-12 students across the state.
The funding, managed through the From Students to Stewards Initiative, aims to transform how students interact with Michigan’s watersheds. By moving beyond the classroom, the initiative focuses on place-based learning to foster a sense of responsibility for the Great Lakes.
“As the Great Lakes state with more freshwater coastline than anyplace on Earth, Michigan must provide every student with access to place-based, experiential, water-focused education,” said Emily Finnell, Great Lakes senior advisor and strategist for the Office of the Great Lakes.
The financial support is divided into two primary freshwater-focused categories:
Stewardship Project Grants
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will award $75,000 in competitive grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. These funds are intended to help schools implement community-based water stewardship projects. Eligible applicants include school districts, public school academies and tribal education agencies.
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative provides the federal backing for these grants through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. According to federal guidelines, localized, community-led efforts are essential to the long-term health of the entire Great Lakes basin.
Wheels to Water Program
A second pool of approximately $81,000 will provide noncompetitive reimbursements of up to $1,000 per school. These grants cover transportation costs for field trips to Michigan freshwater ecosystems during the 2026-27 school year.
The emphasis on direct contact with water resources aligns with research from the National Environmental Education Foundation. Data suggests that students who engage in hands-on water quality testing and habitat observation show a significantly higher interest in environmental conservation.
The From Students to Stewards Initiative is a collaboration between the Office of the Great Lakes, EGLE’s Environmental Education Program, and the MiSTEM Network. The Great Lakes represent approximately 21% of the world’s surface fresh water, and the Great Lakes Commission emphasizes that education is a pillar of regional water security.
Interested educators can attend an informational webinar on March 18, 2026, while applications for the stewardship grants must be submitted by April 13, 2026.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is Assistant Editor of EPOnline.com.
