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Internal Resources

SCDES's K-12 Recycling Grant - Promotes awareness of solid waste issues, including the need to reduce the solid waste we generate, and to recycle whenever we can. If you would like a copy of the application, or if you have questions about the K-12 Recycling Education grants, please contact SCDES's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling via email at swgrants@des.sc.gov or by calling 1-800-768-7348.

  • Action for a Cleaner Tomorrow - An award-winning, interdisciplinary, activity-based curriculum supplement that provides an introduction to solid waste, recycling and composting to kindergarten through eighth-grade students. It is the centerpiece of the Take Action SC Partnership.
  • Recycling at School - This program can help schools set up, maintain, improve and expand recycling and composting programs through grant funding, technical assistance, curriculum lessons and other materials.
  • Don't Waste Food SC - A program to help prevent and reduce food waste in schools
  • Breathe Better (B2) Program - An anti-idling, clean air education program. The goal is to help protect public health and improve air quality by reducing harmful vehicle emissions around school campuses and other public spaces. 
  • Spare the Air - A statewide education and outreach campaign that advances public health and environmental well-being by improving air quality across South Carolina. This campaign supports and promotes innovative projects, programs, and partnerships that aim to protect and enhance the air we breathe.
  • Radiation Awareness Program - This free program can provide educators with knowledgeable SCDES speakers who will talk about radiation and nuclear power plants. Free educational materials can also be provided.

  • SC Adopt-a-Stream - South Carolina Adopt-a-Stream (SC AAS) is a statewide volunteer water quality monitoring program that empowers community members to protect and improve water quality through education and certified volunteer monitoring. Volunteers 14 and older can become certified in freshwater stream, tidal saltwater, macroinvertebrate, and lake monitoring. Find out more by visiting www.scadoptastream.org or by contacting scaas@des.sc.gov. Click here to learn more about how your school can use SC AAS as a Green Step School project. 
  • PurpleAir - Through the Breathe Better (B2) Program, schools can participate in citizen science by using PurpleAir monitors to measure fine particle pollution (PM2.5) in real time. These tiny particles are small enough to enter the lungs and bloodstream, making air quality an important part of protecting public health. By collecting and analyzing local air quality data, students become citizen scientists—investigating how weather, traffic, outdoor activities, and seasonal changes affect air quality. Students can also share their findings with their school and community, helping raise awareness and inspire actions that support cleaner air and healthier communities.

 

External Resources

  • Environmental Education Association of South Carolina Mini-Grant Program - EEASC grants, up to $300, are available to formal and informal educators to further environmental education and environmental literacy. Applications are judged solely on the information provided on this form. Please note that an active EEASC membership is required to request a grant.
  • Farm Bureau Mini-Grant Program - The South Carolina Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher program offers a Learn-to-Farm classroom mini-grant program for teachers in public and private schools.
  • South Carolina Farm to School Program - Each year this South Carolina program awards schools with mini-grants to implement the four core components of Farm to School. Grantees receive funding and technical assistance from program staff throughout the entire school year as well training opportunities that include a one-day workshop (Action Institute), Garden Workshop, and Culinary Training.
  • Palmetto Pride - South Carolina's anti-litter campaign program offers grants to citizens to help beautify the state. Check out the Litter Trashes Everyone Education Grant available to elementary, middle and high schools.
  • Richland County Conservation District - Conservation Education Mini-Grants and Clean Stream Columbia Awards are available to public, private, and alternative schools in Richland County to support conservation-related student projects including outdoor classrooms, school gardens, nature trails, wildlife habitats, rain barrels, composting initiatives, air quality campaigns, litter clean-ups, rain gardens, erosion control, and stream bank restoration.

  • Environmental Education Association of South Carolina - A non-profit association with a leadership role in environmental and natural resource conservation education in South Carolina.
  • Green Step Schools - Encourages K-12 schools to take annual steps toward establishing and maintaining model quality sustainability projects. Schools qualify for awards when they work with qualified mentors and submit videos or pictures with detailed captions showing their students learning, doing and teaching others about their projects.
  • Palmetto Environmental Education Certification (PEEC) - South Carolina’s first environmental education (EE) professional certification designed for both formal and nonformal educators.
  • SC Energy Office--Provides resources that can be used to enhance energy related education materials and support important decisions related to addressing underperforming buildings, equipment, and vehicles/buses in South Carolina schools.
  • SC Forestry Commission - Provides k-12 programs at Harbison Forest, in-school and virtual fields trips.
  • SC Wildlife Federation - Education programs including Schoolyard Habitats, Ranger Rick, and online nature learning through free webinars on YouTube.
  • Clemson 4-H - Includes five program areas for youth development: Agriculture & Animals, Civic Engagement, Healthy Living, Natural Resources, and STEM.
  • Conservation Education - Links to multiple SCDNR K-12 educational opportunities such as in-school programs, field trips, Project WILD, and Hikes with a Naturalist.
  • Project Learning Tree - Designed for teachers and informal educators who work with students from early childhood through high school. In South Carolina, Project Learning Tree is jointly sponsored by the SC Forestry Commission, SC Forestry Association, and the SC Department of Education.
  • Project WET - Provides training for formal and non-formal educators and facilitators through water education workshops, promote water education throughout the state, and provide materials and support.

 

Project Ideas 
  • Establish or enhance a pollinator habitat
  • Create a Monarch Waystation
  • Work with regional schools/organizations to establish a Pollinator Pathway
  • Establish a school apiary--collect and share honey produced by the bees
  • Provide and maintain nest sites to support all pollinator life stages
  • Identify pollinators and record/share your data to protect native SC pollinators
  • Develop and share organic pest control methods
  • Create a garden app to share with your community
Pollinator Education 
Pollinator Identification
Pollinator Habitat
Media

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K12
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Teachers