Campton Township Open Space Foundation
Byron Community, Illinois

Project Title: Campton Township Open Space Natural Resources Area

Description: The Campton Township Open Space Natural Resources Area project will provide the community with restored natural habitats, including 80 acres of oak savanna and wetlands, improving biodiversity and ecological resilience. It also enhances public access and environmental education through new trails, signage, and demonstration gardens, benefiting residents—especially youth and school groups.

Ecology Action Center
Clinton Community, Illinois

Project Title: Tree Corps

Description: The Tree Corps project by the Ecology Action Center will improve public health and environmental resilience by planting 10,000 trees annually in Bloomington-Normal and Mclean County, areas disproportionately affected by pollution. This initiative enhances air quality, reduces urban heat, and creates pollinator habitats, benefiting residents through cleaner and greener community spaces.

Friends of Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area
Dresden Community, Illinois

Project Title: Invasive Species Removal

Description: This project will restore 342 acres of public land within the Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area by removing invasive plant species, enhancing biodiversity, and improving the ecological health of the area. These efforts will provide long-term environmental benefits and create a safer, more enjoyable space for the community members who use the area for recreation and education.

Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves
Dresden Community, Illinois

Project Title: Equipment Funding for Preserve Stewardship

Description: The project activities include invasive species control, brush-cutting, seed dispersal, rare species care, and prescribed burns. The project aims to restore 456 acres, save or create two wildlife habitats, and enhance volunteer capacity to address urgent stewardship needs across Illinois preserves.

Friends of the Forest Preserve District of Will County
Braidwood Community, Illinois

Project Title: Invasive species removal project adjacent to the Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve

Description: The project focuses on removing invasive woody species from 2.78 acres adjacent to the Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve to protect and restore high-quality prairie, savanna, and wetland habitats.

Hog Capitol Rescue
Quad Cities Community, Illinois

Project Title: Refurbish and Construct Two New Wildlife Enclosures

Description: The project will refurbish and construct two new wildlife enclosures and install plumbing to improve access to running water, enhancing care for rescued animals.

Hoo Haven
LaSalle Community, Illinois

Project Title: Herptile Recovery & Education Center – Phases II & III  

Description: Phases II and III of the Herptile Recovery & Education Center project aim to complete the interior of a new facility for reptile rehabilitation and education, including infrastructure like heating, plumbing, and animal enclosures, as well as a classroom and outdoor enrichment area for turtles and tortoises.

Illini State Park Foundation
LaSalle Community, Illinois

Project Title: Woodland Restoration Project

Description: The Illini State Park Foundation project funding will restore natural habitats by removing invasive species and hazardous trees, resurface trails, and construct new pollinator habitats within the park.

Rock Island County Extension and 4-H Education Foundation
Quad Cities Community, Illinois

Project Title: Growing Together: Trees, Education, and Community Resilience

Description: The “Growing Together: Trees, Education, and Community Resilience” initiative will plant large-canopy native trees at four schools with low Tree Equity Scores, while delivering interactive environmental education and training for students, teachers, and maintenance staff.

Sugar Grove Foundation
Clinton Community Illinois

Project Title: Oak Regeneration Project

Description: The Sugar Grove Foundation’s project at Funks Grove supports oak regeneration, invasive species removal, new trail construction, prairie restoration, and waterway cleanup to enhance ecological health and public access in the Sugar Grove Nature Center area.

Upscales Helping Hands
LaSalle Community, Illinois

Project Title: Coal Miner’s Park Renovation

Description: The Coal Miner’s Park Renovation project seeks to transform an underutilized park into an inclusive, eco-friendly, and educational space by adding ADA-compliant infrastructure, eco-lighting, walking paths, a pond aerator, and educational signage.

American Chestnut Land Trust
Calvert Community, Maryland

Project Title: Preserving the Land: Permanent Protection of 90 Acres in Southern Maryland

Description: American Chestnut Land Trust seeks to conserve the ecologically significant Helfrich property in Calvert County, Maryland, preserving forests, meadows, and a stream that feeds into the Chesapeake Bay.

Anne Arundel County Public School Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center
Constellation sites within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Project Title: Indian Creek Marsh Boardwalk Rebuild

Description: The project will rebuild the Indian Creek Marsh Boardwalk, a critical hands-on learning space that has deteriorated over time. The new design will include multiple accessible learning platforms to support daily programming, high school research aligned with Smithsonian Environmental Research Center methods, and broader community engagement.

Calvert Nature Society
Calvert Community, Maryland

Project Title: Paddle to Protect: Water Access for Environment Engagement

Description: The “Paddle to Protect” initiative aims to expand public access to waterways like Battle Creek and the Patuxent River by purchasing beginner-friendly kayaks and safety equipment, enabling guided tours, conservation events, and independent paddling experiences.

Chesapeake Bay Trust
Calvert Community, Maryland

Project Title: CLEAN Environmental Awards in Calvert County

Description: This project will empower Calvert County residents to lead environmental restoration and education efforts that improve local ecosystems and foster community stewardship. Projects may focus on trail maintenance, invasive species removal, native plantings, stormwater management, conservation landscaping, litter cleanup, and environmental education for youth and adults.

Patuxent Riverkeeper / EarthReports Inc.
Calvert Community, Maryland

Project Title: Summer Mentoring Camp

Description: The project supports a series of summer day camps for youth ages 10–16, pairing them with adult mentors to build nature skills and environmental awareness. These camps serve participants in a community with limited youth programming, emphasizing hands-on learning and personal development in outdoor settings.  

Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust
Calvert Community, Maryland

Project Title: Southern Maryland Land Conservation & Weed Warriors

Description: The Land Conservation in Huntersville Rural Legacy Area project aims to preserve 300+ acres of farms, forests, and habitats in Southern Maryland through conservation easements, enhancing clean water, climate resilience, and rural heritage. The Weed Warrior Program Expansion will allow volunteers to remove invasive species and restore native biodiversity in parks and neighborhoods, promoting hands-on environmental education and healthier community spaces.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Oswego County
Fitzpatrick Community, New York

Project Title: Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center Accessible Trail Project

Description: The Accessible Trail Project aims to restore the Beaver Marsh Trail by resurfacing paths, removing hazards, and rebuilding the observation deck to ensure safe, inclusive access for individuals with mobility challenges, families, and educators.

Ducks Unlimited
Nine Mile Point Community, New York

Project Title: Critical Restoration Project at the Lakeview Wildlife Management Area

Description: The Lakeview Wildlife Management Area restoration project aims to rehabilitate 150 acres of degraded wetlands by removing invasive species, improving hydrology, and creating open-water habitats to support fish, birds, and other wildlife.

Friends of Camp Hollis
Fitzpatrick Community, New York

Project Title: Repair the Camp Hollis Trail System

Description: The project aims to restore and enhance a deteriorated trail system across 25 acres of forested land to improve safety, accessibility, and environmental education. This includes trail resurfacing with crushed limestone, improved signage, and collaboration with youth workforce programs and volunteers. The expected outcomes include increased safe access to nature, reduced injury and tick exposure risks, and preservation of 51.89 acres of natural habitat. 

Friends of the Sterling Nature Center
Fitzpatrick Community, New York

Project Title: Trail System Rehabilitation, Bird-Safe Window Film, Summer Nature Explorers Youth Program

Description: Three key projects will be addressed by Friends of the Sterling Nature Center. The Trail System Rehabilitation & Wetland Bridge Repair will restore a key trail and bridge to improve safe access to sensitive wetland habitats shaped by beaver activity. The Bird-Safe Window Film Installation will protect migratory birds by installing 850+ sq ft of bird-safe film and educational signage on facility windows. Finally, the Summer Nature Explorers Youth Program is a two-week program for ages 9–12 focused on biodiversity, tree planting, wildlife ID, and shoreline cleanups.

Save our Sodus
Ginna Community, New York

Project Title: Save Our Sodus Program

Description: The Save Our Sodus Program is a multi-faceted initiative including invasive species removal (water chestnut), eco-tours on a restored research boat, and a pilot eco-camp for youth. It is expected to benefit over 14,000 people through environmental education, hands-on experiences, and restoration efforts including removal of 1,000 invasive plants and recycling 100 pounds of trash.

Seneca Waterways Council
Nine Mile Point Community, New York

Project Title: Massawepie Scout

Description: The project will restore and expand the boardwalk and trail infrastructure along a 5-mile hiking loop at Massawepie Scout Camp, enhancing safety and accessibility for youth and community programs.

Wild By Nurture
Ginna Community, New York

Project Title: Fawn Rehabilitation Enclosure Set-up

Description: The project seeks funding to build a dedicated fawn rehabilitation enclosure that meets New York State standards, providing a safe and quiet space for white-tailed fawns to recover and be released back into the wild. 

Chester Housing Initiatives, Inc.
Chester County Community, Pennsylvania

Project Title: Climate Resilient Agriculture at Ruth Bennett Community Farm

Description: The “Climate Resilient Agriculture” project at Ruth Bennett Community Farm focuses on sustainable urban farming, pollinator habitat creation, and community education. It includes workshops, native plant installations, and distribution of pocket pollinator gardens to promote ecological awareness and food sovereignty.

Halifax Wildcat Education Foundation
Crane Community, Pennsylvania

Project Title: Halifax Community Garden Greenhouse Remodel

Description: This project will repair and upgrade a community greenhouse, including fixing ventilation systems, irrigation, lighting, and climate controls. The project supports year-round gardening and education for community members while enhancing .03 acres of community space.  

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Limerick and Croydon Community, Pennsylvania

Project Title: Delaware River Living Shoreline Installation at Croydon, PA

Description: This project will support Phase 3 of a multi-year shoreline restoration project using innovative concrete structures to stabilize 1,000 linear feet of shoreline and enhance aquatic habitat. A construction firm will install subtidal structures and shoreline stabilization materials; deploy novel concrete materials to support fish habitat and reduce erosion, release hatchery-raised native mussels and establish submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), and conduct community outreach and school engagement activities focused on coastal resilience and hazard mitigation.

Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy
Limerick Community, Pennsylvania

Project Title: Perkiomen Sourcewater Protection Program: Remove, Reclaim, Restore

Description: This project is a three-part initiative that includes removing 60,000 pounds of trash through the region’s largest single-day stream cleanup, reclaiming waterways from invasive species like European water chestnut, and restoring habitats by planting over 10,000 native plants. The project aims to restore 350 acres of land.

Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
Crane and Peach Bottom Community, Pennsylvania

Project Title: Duck Boxes and Critical Care Incubators

Description: Raven Ridge will tackle two high priority projects. Duckling Cage Construction will build custom outdoor cages with indoor sections and stock tanks to accommodate orphaned ducklings during their 2–3-month rehabilitation period. The Critical Care Equipment and Storage project will purchase 10 new critical care incubators of various sizes, and secure indoor storage bins for medical supplies.

Red Creek Wildlife Center
Crane and Peach Bottom Community, Pennsylvania

Project Title: Raccoon Enclosure Expansion Project

Description: The Raccoon Enclosure Expansion aims to build an outdoor enclosure divided into two units to accommodate the growing number of raccoon patients, especially during summer and overwintering periods. The enclosure will feature species-specific design elements like climbing structures, secure vestibules, and weather-adaptive roofing to support natural behavior and safe rehabilitation.

Schuylkill River Greenways
Limerick Community, Pennsylvania

Project Title: Birdsboro Section of the Schuylkill River Trail – Trail Resurfacing Project

Description: The project will resurface a 1-mile off-road section of the Schuylkill River Trail in Birdsboro. The project includes scraping, leveling, laying new crushed stone, and compacting the surface to restore safe, accessible conditions for walkers, cyclists, and equestrian users.

Watershed Alliance of York (WAY)
Peach Bottom Community, Pennsylvania

Project Title: East Branch Codorus Creek Stream Restoration Permit

Description: The East Branch Codorus Creek Stream Restoration project seeks to resubmit a lapsed permit for restoring 2,000 linear feet of the East Branch Codorus Creek. Once reauthorized, the project will move forward with construction to restore 5 acres of stream habitat and plant 500 trees, enhancing ecological health and public access.

White Clay Watershed Association
Peach Bottom Community, Pennsylvania

Project Title: Catch the Rain: Community Solutions for Clean Water

Description: The project, "Catch the Rain: Community Solutions for Clean Water" will implement rain gardens, permeable pavement retrofits, and native plantings to reduce runoff and pollution; conduct 15 personalized site visits and installs nature-based practices on at least six properties, which are showcased on an interactive ArcGIS dashboard; use of demonstration sites for workshops and tours, provides volunteer opportunities in land stewardship, and plans to scale the program across the watershed through additional sponsorships.

Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) North Central Chapter
Colorado Bend II, Handley, and Wolf Hollow II Community, Texas

Project Title: Living Landscapes: Native Plant Demonstration and Ecological Renewal

Description: The “Living Landscapes” initiative supports 12 demonstration gardens, restores ecologically significant sites, and enhances pollinator habitats through native plant installations and invasive species removal. It also funds the “Bring Back the Monarch to Texas” program, creating pollinator gardens in schools and public spaces.