The Lower Minnesota River Watershed District (LMRWD) has several educational handouts for the public:

• LMRWD Watershed 101
• Rain Barrels
• Rain and Native Gardens
• Steep Slopes Vegetation Management 

Activities

• LMRWD Bingo
• LMRWD Scavenger Hunt

Additional Links

• MN DNR Project WET
• Metro Children's Water Festival
• Center for Global Environmental Education

Educator Mini-Grant Program

As part of the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District (LMRWD) 2022 Public Education and Outreach Plan, a mini-grant program for individuals and groups providing educational services has been developed. This program is designed to assist local educators and to further the LMRWD’s mission and goals of water quality restoration, groundwater conservation, and wildlife connectivity while increasing public awareness of the Minnesota River and its unique natural resources. The program is designed to streamline outreach to, and evaluation of, funding requests from schools and nonprofits and will provide schools, nonprofits, educators, and students with funding opportunities for equipment, supplies, teacher training, field trip transportation, and more! 

Eligibility

The program will provide up to 10 grants annually, each up to $500, to offset the cost of materials and programming that focus on water resources. Eligibility to receive funding will be determined by the following:  

• The applicant must be located within the LMRWD or a member city  
• Activities and projects must have a water resources or wildlife habitat component 
• Recipients are eligible for only one grant per academic year    
• Receipts and a project report must be provided for refund 

Grant examples include, but are not limited to, equipment, supplies and in-class materials, field trips and transportation, guest speakers, teacher training, and program sponsorship funding. Examples of activities not eligible for funding include marketing materials for self-promotion, staff payroll, and funding for future undetermined activities and projects.  

Deadline

Grant funds are available for the 2022–2023 academic year. The application will be released twice during the academic year with deadlines on October 21, 2022, and February 3, 2023, by 4 p.m. Applications are awarded on a competitive basis while funds last.  Mini-grant forms should be sent to info@lowermnriverwd.org.    

All program communication should be addressed to the Education Coordinator with the email  subject heading of LMRWD Educator Mini-Grant Program. Please note if transmission includes the application, reimbursement and reporting form, general question(s), or other.

Evaluation

All applications received on or before the deadline will be prescreened. Staff and members of the Citizen Advisory Committee will review applications based on the project quality metrics. Each application will be given a numerical score and while funds last, funding recommendations will be presented to the Board of Managers for approval. 

Reimbursement and Reporting Request Form

Recipients must complete the reimbursement and reporting request form to receive payment.  

• Information Handout
• Application 
• Evaluation
• Reimbursement and Reporting Form

Mini-Grant forms should be sent to info@lowermnriverwd.org.    

All program communication should be addressed to the Education Coordinator with the email  subject heading of LMRWD Educator Mini-Grant Program. Please note if transmission includes the application, reimbursement and reporting form, general question(s), or other.