Contributed by St. Johns River Water Management
The St. Johns River Water Management District (District) is offering up to $60,000 in Blue School Grant funding for the 2025-2026 school year. The grants will support hands-on learning in K-12 public and charter schools throughout the District.
Individual grants of up to $3,000 per teacher or school are available to fund water-focused STEM curriculum, field trips or projects such as water quality testing, aquaponics, conservation gardens and watershed studies. The program helps students connect classroom learning to real world environmental concepts, inspiring them to explore and protect Florida’s water resources.
“Blue School Grants give students the opportunity to step outside the classroom and become scientists, observers and stewards of Florida’s environment,” said Ali Pressel, education and outreach coordinator for the District. “It’s amazing to see how quickly their confidence and curiosity grow when they realize they can make a real difference in their local ecosystems.”
The application period for the 2025–2026 Blue School Grant cycle opened on August 1 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 21. For a full list of application requirements, instructions and key dates, visit www.sjrwmd.com/education/blue-school.
Since 2016, the Blue School Grant program has funded 115 projects, supported 85 schools and reached more than 15,550 students. These classroom-to-field experiences give students the opportunity to apply science skills while learning how their actions impact natural systems.
About the St. Johns River Water Management District
St. Johns River Water Management District staff are committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the District and the state of Florida. The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida managing groundwater and surface water supplies in the state. The District encompasses all or part of 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff also are available to serve the public at service centers in Apopka, Jacksonville and Palm Bay.
Connect with us on X at @SJRWMD, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. For more information about the District, please visit sjrwmd.com.
