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Arkansas schools have an opportunity to expand outdoor and conservation education programs with more than $690,000 in grant funding now available statewide.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Division of Rural Services are accepting applications for the Wildlife Education Grant Program. The funding can help schools create outdoor classrooms, purchase conservation equipment, organize field trips and develop hands-on programs that connect students with Arkansas’s natural resources.
Applications are open through Nov. 12, 2026.
Wildlife Fines Support Education
Unlike many education grants, the money comes directly from fines collected for hunting and fishing violations in Arkansas.
Just over $536,000 available this year comes from fines collected during the previous year. Another $150,000-plus is money carried forward from previous grant cycles when funds were not claimed or allocated.
The funding is distributed by county. Wildlife and fishing violation fines collected within a county are set aside for conservation education grants in that county, allowing the money to support educational opportunities close to where it was collected.
Taking Learning Outdoors
The grants are designed to give teachers and schools more opportunities to incorporate conservation and outdoor recreation into education.
Schools have used previous grants to build outdoor classrooms, purchase equipment and supplies for conservation projects and pay for trips to AGFC nature centers. Grants also can support activities such as water-quality monitoring through the AGFC Stream Team Program, archery and conservation programs, and other outdoor experiences.
AGFC Chief of Education Mary Beth Hatch said the agency is encouraging more outdoor learning experiences because they give students opportunities to apply lessons in real-world settings.
The grants also complement programs such as Archery in the Schools, the Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program and educational experiences offered through AGFC’s nine nature centers.
Supporting Conservation Leadership
Some Arkansas schools have used the grants to help complete requirements for designation as an AGFC School of Conservation Leadership.
Schools participating in the program have used grant money for outdoor classrooms, equipment and supplies needed for conservation projects, nature center trips and participation in the annual Generation Conservation Summit. The program is open to schools ranging from elementary through high school.
The flexibility of the grants also gives educators room to develop projects suited to their students and communities.
Potential projects can range from studying a nearby stream or improving wildlife habitat on school grounds to taking students into the field for hands-on conservation and outdoor recreation experiences.
How Arkansas Schools Can Apply
Teachers and school administrators have until Nov. 12 to submit applications through AEDC’s Division of Rural Services.
Because funding is allocated by county, the amount available varies depending on wildlife and fishing fines collected locally and any unused grant money carried forward from previous years.
AGFC provides additional information about the program, including a county-by-county list of available funding and a link to the application.
Wildlife Education Grant application information
For Arkansas schools looking for ways to get students outside and make conservation part of the classroom experience, the grants can provide funding for projects that might otherwise be difficult to fit into school budgets.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens, thank you for supporting our work!