The Department of Environmental Protection is awarding $642,835 in environmental education grants to 147 schools, universities, nonprofit organizations and conservation districts across Pennsylvania.

As part of the grant, Palmerton Area School District will receive $3,000, and is the only district in Carbon County to be awarded the funding.In Monroe County, the Pleasant Valley School District will receive $3,750; Stroudsburg Area $7,500; and Brodhead Watershed Association, $3,000.Schuylkill County recipients are the Pottsville Area School District, $2,504; Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29, $2,332; and Blue Mountain School District, $3,000.Grant recipients will use the funding for various initiatives, including environmental field trips for students, implementing environmental education curriculum at schools, purchasing new recycling containers to reduce waste, developing workshops on how to build rain barrels and planting community gardens.The grant program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993., which mandates setting aside five percent of the pollution fines and penalties DEP collects annually for environmental education in Pennsylvania."These grants help build the foundation for educating communities about their environmental resources and how to protect and sustainably use them," DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. "Teaching moments like these give all Pennsylvanians a better understanding of our beautiful state."