The most rewarding part of the askHRgreen.org program is the Environmental Education Mini Grant program. For close to 14 years, askHRgreen.org has provided small grants of up to $500 to help teachers and youth leaders develop hands-on environmental education experiences. Whether students are growing oysters, launching a cafeteria recycling program, planting a community garden, or making upcycled art, these projects connect youth with the environment in ways not gained through a worksheet, a book or a movie. Kids learn best by doing and askHRgreen.org sponsored projects let kids dig into the subjects, get their hands dirty, and gain a new understanding of environmental issues.
askHRgreen.org is happy to announce we had one of our most active years for mini grant applications in the 2018-2019 school year! There were 20 different grants awarded
for a total of $9,668. Projects were located all across Hampton Roads and engaged nearly 7,500 students. We congratulate all of our grant recipients for taking the time and initiative to bring additional resources into their school to enhance their students understanding of real world issues. A full list of projects completed in 2018-2019 are provided below.
We can’t wait to see what inspiring projects come our way this year. Interested? Apply online now!
Name of Project | Students | School/Facility | City/County | Project Description | Awarded |
Be Fantastic, Use Less Plastic | 1200 | Hugo Owens Middle School | Chesapeake | This project will install water bottle filling stations at Hugo Owens Middle School. | $500.00 |
Butterfly and Bee Garden | 397 | Barron Fundamental Elementary School | Hampton | A butterfly garden was planted at Barron Fundamental Elementary School. | $250.00 |
Chicken Coop in Our Garden | 40 | Maury High School | Norfolk | This project funded a chicken coop designed and constructed by garden club students. | $500.00 |
Community Learning Garden and Beautification Project | 40 | Saunders Elementary/ Youth Volunteer Corps of Hampton Roads | Newport News | This project mitigated drainage issues along the front walkway to Saunders Elementary and the installation of a community learning garden. | $500.00 |
Creating, Conserving, and Protecting Monarch Habitats | 569 | Great Bridge Primary School | Chesapeake | This project features a compost bin, and raised garden beds to be built in the fall. Students also will place milkweed with butterfly eggs in mesh cages to observe the life cycle of the butterfly. | $500.00 |
Downstream Collaborative | 79 | Kempsville Meadows Elementary School | Virginia Beach | This grant sought to create and support meaningful watershed opportunities that connect students with community partners. | $500.00 |
Drip Smart | 80 | Williamsburg Community Growers | Lightfoot | The Drip Smart project helped convert the Williamsburg Community Growers farm to a drip irrigation system. | $500.00 |
Eaton Middle School Lunch Recycling Program | 650 | Eaton Fundamental Middle School | Hampton | This project helped create a lunchroom recycling and composting program run by Ecology Club students. | $418.06 |
Granby Go Green | 20 | Granby High School | Norfolk | This project beautified the garden and repaired a trellis at Granby High School. | $500.00 |
Green Run Demonstration Rain Garden | 42 | Green Run High School | Virginia Beach | This project installed a rain garden at Green Run High School. | $500.00 |
Keeping the Chesapeake Bay Clean | 925 | Western Branch Middle School | Chesapeake | This project provided library books about environmental stewardship to Western Branch Middle School. | $500.00 |
Keeping the Vibrance and Learning in Our Gardens | 530 | Newtown Elementary School | Virginia Beach | This project was a continuation of a multi-year effort at to expand Newtown’s morning garden club. | $500.00 |
Lights of Love for the Hague | 50 | Breathe Easy and Smile Yoga Co. | Norfolk | The Lights of Love Attraction created a walking path around the Hague with luminaries decorated by guests and facilitated by volunteers from Maury High School. | $500.00 |
Little Hands Big Clean Up | 600 | Granby Elementary School | Norfolk | This project implemented a recycling program at Granby Elementary School. | $500.00 |
Norfolk Academy Pollinator Garden | 400 | Norfolk Academy | Norfolk | This project involved building raised bed gardens and a new greenhouse at Norfolk Academy. | $500.00 |
One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure | 25 | Western Branch Middle School | Chesapeake | This beautification project took trash cans throughout the school and transformed them into works of art. | $500.00 |
Plants & Air Quality | 100 | York County Beautification Committee | Yorktown | This project will fund the use of an Air Quality Egg learning system in York County high schools. | $500.00 |
Plastic Bottle Art | 150 | Lakeland High School | Suffolk | This project will continue efforts at Lakeland High School to create art from recycled items. | $500.00 |
Snip-N-Drip | 1400 | Old Donation School | Virginia Beach | This project installed a watering system in the school pollinator and vegetable gardens. | $500.00 |
Soak Up the Rain! | 200 | Spratley Gifted Center | Hampton | This project guided students to create a rain garden in an eroded area and conduct monthly litter clean-ups. | $500.00 |
Total Students | 7497 | Total Funds Awarded FY18 | $9668.06 |