Let's work the problem. Together.

Groundswell, a coalition of community partners, creates opportunities for hands-on environmental learning for 6-12th grade students.

Funded through the Great Lakes Fishery Trust (GLFT), the Wege Foundation, the Frey Foundation, and the Baldwin Foundation, the initiative is focused on creating lifelong stewards of the Great Lakes via the Grand River watershed.  Conceptualized collaboratively in 2009 by 29 individuals representing 23 organizations from higher education, K-12 schools, government, non-profit, and business, Groundswell has begun the work of providing professional development for partnering teachers from 10 local schools focusing on service learning, stewardship, building partnerships, and implementing projects with students. Grand Valley State University's College of Education is the fiscal agent for the grant.

Partnering teachers are given the opportunity to submit proposals to Groundswell for funding. Funded projects require that:

• The work is connected to curriculum standards
• The work addresses a community need or issue
• Students have a voice in the direction of the project
• The school project is connected to one or more community partners working collaboratively