Eleven school districts in south-central Missouri will be awarded grant funds for student field trips to karst locations in the Ozarks. School districts receiving grant funds are: Ava R-1, Glenwood R-8, Houston R-1, Howell Valley R-1, Licking R-8, Mountain Grove R-3, Mountain View-Birch Tree R-3, Plato R-5, Willow Springs R-4, Manes R-5, and Gainesville R-5.

Funding for these trips is part of the Hands-on Karst and Watershed Education project. School districts were eligible for the grant awards because teachers from their districts attended the Hands-on Karst and Watershed Education Workshop and Field Trip in April or July.

Teachers not only learned about Ozark karst features and were eligible for field trip funding, but they also received a wide assortment of hands-on lessons, online mapping tools, access to educational videos, a menu of additional in-classroom support after the workshop, and a $300 stipend.

Additionally, teachers may check out EnviroScape watershed education models. These hands-on, portable models demonstrate water pollution and prevention concepts to students.

The total amount awarded to school districts will be $20,000, and 25 trips for grades K-12 students are planned for the 2023-2024 school year and 2024 summer school.

Please contact Denise Vaughn at ozarkkarst@gmail.com or 417-247-7874 for more information.