The Bonneville Power Administration recognizes that investing in the next generation leads to a better future. As part of its student outreach and education effort, BPA’s Science and Energy Education Grants program helps students learn about the issues and science related to energy generation and transmission in the Northwest.
This year’s grants will go to education programs covering a range of topics, from understanding different types of power to habitat restoration and environmental justice.
The top four grant awardees received a total of $10,000 for the following programs:
Oakville School District (Washington) - $5,000
Project: Restoring Stream Habitat and Native Salmon Populations in the Mid-Chehalis Watershed
The Natural Resource department will develop an aquatic educational program to promote riparian habitat restoration and salmon in the Middle Chehalis River Watershed. The department currently grows native riparian plants in its horticulture program, and we would like to start a salmon culture component by hatching salmon eggs, rearing smolts and releasing fry into strategic locations in the Chehalis River basin.
Hockinson School District (Washington) - $3,000
Project: Hockinson School District’s Early Learning Garden
The Hockinson Early Learning Garden will be a community gathering place that uses outdoor play and interactive learning to build fine and gross motor skills and provide sensory experiences as children learn about nature, energy and science. The garden will incorporate water troughs, water tubes, sand and sieve operations, and a footbridge with miniature windmills. Basic elements of physics and energy production will be explained in colorful signs posted throughout the garden.
Ecology in the Classroom (Oregon) - $1,550
Project: Environmental Justice, Climate Science, Action and Clean Energy
ECO will develop a lesson on environmental justice for middle and high school students that defines environmental justice and identifies challenges that climate change will present to historically oppressed groups. The lesson will advance students’ understanding of emerging equity-based models that simultaneously produce renewable sources of energy, create jobs and are accessible to marginalized communities who suffer the largest burden of climate change impacts.
Third graders will learn about living things and their habitats and study natural changes to the environment, and environmental damage caused by humans and power generation. Students will have a build a model that uses hydroelectric power to lift weights and visit Bonneville Dam.
More information on the Science and Energy Grant program
The next grant application cycle will be open March 21 – June 30, 2022. To find out more about BPA's Science and Energy Grant program, visit the BPA.gov grant program page.
Staff are encouraged to share this opportunity with nonprofit organizations, schools, government organizations and others working in the area of education for K-12 grade students. For questions, email Heather Bain, the program lead.