Schoolyard Habitat Grant Program

Our chapter has been supporting wildlife through schoolyard habitat grants since 2001. Our first grant, written by 3 fifth grade students, helped create a pollinator garden at Dasher Green Elementary School. Since then, we have supported wildlife habitat plantings, pollinator and rain gardens, and bluebird nest box trails at schools, nature centers, and libraries throughout our chapter territory.

Each year, we offer 1 – 3 grants of $500 each to public and private schools and other educational organizations as a way to help wildlife directly, and also to enhance learning about nature and our interdependence with the natural environment. We are especially interested in supporting projects that use their improved outdoor space to teach about how climate change affects wildlife and we can all work toward solutions.

 Application materials are available from this site each fall, and are due on December 15. Awards are announced by January 15 each year.

We are happy to consult with teachers and others interested in developing a habitat plan prior to writing an application. Please contact us with any questions.

There are also many sources of helpful information available online, including from our sister organization. Audubon of Connecticut.

Previous grant recipients:

2001    Dasher Green Elementary School, Columbia

2004    Trinity School, Ellicott City

            Lime Kiln Middle School, Fulton

2005    Hammond Elementary School, Fulton

            Mount Airy Middle School, Mount Airy

            St. John’s Parish Day School, Ellicott City

2006   Parr’s Ridge Elementary School, Mount Airy

            Reservoir High School, Fulton

            Long Reach High School, Columbia

2007   Howard County Conservancy, Woodstock

            Cradlerock School, Columbia

St. John’s Elementary School, Ellicott City

2008   Cradlerock School, Columbia

            Deep Run Elementary School, Clarksville

2009   Pointers Run Elementary School, Clarksville

            Ilchester Elementary School, Ellicott City

            Century High School, Sykesville

            Walkersville High School, Walkersville

2010   Ilchester Elementary School, Ellicott City

            West Friendship Elementary School, West Friendship

2011   Robinson Nature Center, Columbia

2012   Northfield Elementary School, Ellicott City

2013   Deer Crossing Elementary School, New Market

            Oakland Mills High School, Columbia

2014   Oakland Mills High School, Columbia

2015   Folly Quarter Middle School, Ellicott City

            Howard County Conservancy, Woodstock

            St. John’s Lane Elementary School, Ellicott City

2016   Piney Ridge Elementary, Sykesville

2017   East Branch Howard County Library, Columbia

2018   Homewood School, Ellicott City

            Lake Elkhorn Middle School, Columbia

2019   Homewood School, Ellicott City

2020 Ducketts Lane Elementary School, Elkridge

Freetown Farm, Columbia

2021 Oakland Mills Online Outdoor Classroom, Columbia

Howard County Community College Pollinator Path, Columbia

2022 Mount View Middle School, Marriottsville