John McCormick Environmental Education Fund

Inspiring Environmental Education for Teachers and Students

The John McCormick Environmental Education Fund benefits all licensed PreK through grade 12 teachers and students at White Bear Lake Area Schools. As the son of a biology teacher, John McCormick enjoyed nothing more than being outdoors with the people he loved, whether spending time outdoors with family at the Green Bay cabin, fishing with his children and grandchildren, hiking his parents’ woods, boating on White Bear Lake, or listening for owls at night. He would take great satisfaction in supporting teachers and students who want to enhance their environmental knowledge.

The goal of this fund is to support environmental education for teachers and students in Independent School District 624, fostering a more sustainable future. The fund supports teacher professional development as well as hands-on student learning experiences that bring environmental education to life in the classroom and beyond.

Eligible Uses of the Fund:

1. Teacher Professional Development:

• Workshops (including guest speakers and experts)

• Seminars and conferences

• Online courses and instructional resources to enhance environmental teaching skills. Topics may include climate change, wetlands, water conservation, sustainability, biodiversity, and more.

2. Student Learning Opportunities:

• Classroom/Library resources and learning materials (e.g., books, lab kits, digital tools, weather charts)

• Environmental field trips (e.g., to local parks, nature reserves, or conservation centers)

• Funding for student-led environmental projects (e.g. recycling initiatives, energy audits)

• Activities that connect students directly with nature (e.g., birdwatching workshops, pond studies, or tree planting events)

3. Collaboration and Community Engagement:

• Joint projects between teachers and students, such as habitat restoration efforts

• Programs that involve the local community in sustainability or conservation education

Applications: Up to $8,000 ($2,000 per grant) will be awarded each year and applications will continue to be reviewed on a continual basis until the maximum has been awarded. Projects will be funded for 12 months. After 12 months, any undistributed funds will revert to the WBLAEF.

Applicant Eligibility & Grant Terms

Application Deadline: Ongoing (September 1 - August 31) until the annual allotted amount of $8000 has been distributed.

Who May Apply:

  • Applications will be accepted from educators, or groups of educators, who are currently employed by the White Bear Lake Area School District (including but not limited to teachers, social workers, counselors, and psychologists). If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please call the Foundation office.

  • Prior to completing this application for approval you have verified your building principal and/or district directors (ie: curriculum, technology, student support, equity, building and grounds) do not have the necessary funds to support this request.

Selection Process:

  • The WBLAEF Program Committee will review John McCormick Environmental Educational Fund applications and make recommendations to WBLAEF’s Board of Directors for final approval. This committee will select those proposals with donor input which best exemplify innovative environmental education experiences and personal and professional growth .

Types of Fellowships:

  • Individual: Individual teachers may apply for a grant of up to $2,000.

  • Team: Maximum $2,000 per team. Team members do not have to be from the same school.

Terms:

  • A professional experience that falls on a school day must be approved by administration prior to applying. Costs to obtain a reserve teacher must be included as an expense.

  • Money awarded does not cover requests for obtaining college credits, teacher/clerical stipends, food, or student activities.

  • If a recipient is not employed by the district at the time the award is funded, the funds will revert to the John McCormick Environmental Education Fund or, in the case of a team grant, the funds will be redistributed among the other members of the team.

  • In the case of a team-based proposal, a lead applicant must be designated to assume overall responsibility for the project, and all correspondence will be directed to that person.

  • Partial grant funding: It is not always possible for the selection committee to fully fund a grant request. Please indicate in the application if partial funding will allow you to complete the requested development experience. The committee understands that there are some requests that require full funding in order to be completed. Your answer to this question will not negatively affect consideration of your request.

  • Expenses are reimbursed after submitting a reimbursement form with original receipts to the WBLAEF office. CLICK HERE to submit the reimbursement request.

  • Evaluation: A written results-based evaluation of the project or a 3 to 5 minute presentation to the Foundation Board is required within two months of the project’s completion. Evaluations or presentations must be submitted or arranged with the WBLAEF office. CLICK HERE to submit the evaluation.

Questions? - Please contact the WBLAEF office at 651-407-7696.

APPLY HERE

Complete the online application below and submit. Please have your building principal review the project prior to submitting this application, with agreement that the project aligns with district goals.