Water Rangers Excursion Grant

Engaging youth in community science for water

As proud partners of Blue Schools Canada, led by the Center for Ocean Literacy Collaboration (COLC, formerly Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition), we’re excited to offer support for hands-on learning in both ocean and freshwater ecosystems. This grant provides educators in Canada with Water Rangers resources for field excursions to do community science! You can apply to receive Water Rangers tools to bring water literacy to the youth you work with during Ocean Week Canada and throughout the year.

All funds have now been allocated. Thanks for your interest in our grant!

About the grant

Through this grant, COLC and Water Rangers support meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that bring students outside to test water quality, explore their local waterways, and discover how they connect to the ocean. We’re committed to helping educators spark curiosity and inspire youth through real-world, on-the-water learning. Applications are accepted year-round until funds are exhausted, with most funding prioritized for activities during Ocean Week Canada (May 1 to June 30, 2026).

All educators welcome

This grant is for all educators working with youth under 18. This means that teachers, organizations working with youth, camps, and more can apply.

Funding prioritized for Indigenous and underserved youth

We aim to direct support where it can have the greatest impact. Priority will be given to initiatives engaging Indigenous and underserved youth, including those in low-income or rural communities. To help us reach as many young people as possible, we encourage applicants with the capacity to cover a portion of their equipment costs to do so. This approach ensures that available funds are focused on the youth who need them most.

How to apply

We’re moving to a rolling application process for this grant program. The call for funding applications opens February 2, 2026. The grant covers reasonable costs for Water quality testing equipment from Water Rangers and includes an online training session for educators and youth, should you want it. The maximum grant awarded per application is $750.

Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the available funding is fully allocated.  When all funds have been disbursed, the application form will be closed. You will be notified within 2 weeks of submitting your application if you were successful.

Only complete and eligible applications will be considered.

Selection criteria

Applicants will be selected based on: 

  • The number of youth engaged and the depth of engagement
  • The realistic ability to complete the activity with the allocated funding and timeline
  • The diversity and geographic spread of participants
  • Your willingness/ability to contribute part of the cost of the equipment
  • Potential for continued water testing beyond the proposed activity
  • Novel approaches to teaching water testing, OWC events, or community engagement

Here are examples of an application budget: 

If no financial contribution is possible, that’s ok! We ask those that can contribute to do it, so that our funds go to those that need it the most.

You plan to take your Grade 7 class to a nearby stream for water testing. With 25 students and interest from other teachers who hope to bring their classes as well, you decide that two Education Testkits will best support the larger group. You’re able to cover the cost of one kit, so in your application, you request two kits and indicate your ability to fund one. 

You run a program for low-income youth, typically working with groups of five or fewer. For your small group, you decide to request one Freshwater Explorer Testkit. With limited funds available, you note in your application that you can contribute by covering the shipping costs for the kit ($25). 

Successful applicants will be notified within approximately two (2) weeks of submitting a completed application during the funding period. If you agreed to cover part of the cost of equipment, it will be shipped once you pay that portion, unless you are required to pay by purchase order.  If your circumstances change, please inform us as soon as possible. Grantees will also be required to complete a short survey at the end of their activity to help us measure impact and continue improving the BSC program.

Recipients of the grants will be invited to attend training sessions ahead of OWC to confidently conduct their water testing activities and learn how to add their event to the OWC event hub. 

Information sessions

Bilingual information sessions about this grant will be held on:

  • Friday February 6, 12PM EST
  • Wednesday February 11, 3PM EST

If you’d like to attend one of them, please fill out this short form, and we’ll email you a link for the meeting of your choice. You can also use the form to submit your questions if you can’t attend the sessions.