Funding Amount

Free

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle
Annual
Tracked since
April 2026

Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.

Overview

Program Type: Free professional development summer academy for K-12 educators

Cost: Free to attend

Partner: Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

Target Participants: K-12 educators and teachers

Focus Areas: Outdoor STEM education; environmental learning; place-based education; adaptation of teaching standards to outdoor settings

Program Philosophy: Teachers can incorporate outdoor/natural environments into classroom instruction; emphasizes experiential learning in nature

Key Components:

  • Instruction on planning STEM lessons outside the classroom
  • Use of schoolyard as outdoor learning laboratory
  • Adaptation of classroom teaching standards to outdoor/natural environment settings
  • Learning how to explore the natural environment to meet academic standards
  • Methods for engaging students in STEM learning through outdoor exploration

Program Goal: Help teachers find new and engaging ways to teach STEM by incorporating outdoor natural environments; show students exciting ways to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math

Contact Information:

  • Pam Bonee, Director of Communications: (865) 603-5142, Pam.Bonee@orau.org
  • Wendy West, Manager of Communications: (865) 207-7953, Wendy.West@orau.org

What The Orau Foundation actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2025

Grants in 2025
3
Total given
$285K
Median grant
$75K
Range
$61K–$150K
  • By dollars: Tennessee 52%, Colorado 26%, Pennsylvania 21%. Top recipient cities: Knoxville, TN; Boulder, CO; Pittsburgh, PA.

Example grants

  • University of Tennessee · Knoxville, TN

    Research grant

    $150K

  • University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO

    Research grant

    $75K

  • University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA

    Research grant

    $61K

IRS Form 990, 2025. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • STEM education
  • Environmental education
  • Teacher development

Categories

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