APNEP, under the guidance of the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), accepted proposals from March 2, 2026 - April 30, 2026 for community-based engagement and stewardship projects in the APNEP region that support the 2025 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). APNEP’s CCMP is a 5-year plan that contains specific targeted actions to address a wide range of environmental issues in the Albemarle-Pamlico region. The CAC’s goal is to engage regional communities and organizations in decision-making in order to represent diverse perspectives.
Projects are tailored to actions described in the engagement section of the CCMP which focuses on engagement, stewardship, and educational needs. Projects also align with at least one of APNEP’s priority focus areas selected to maximize APNEP’s resources in such a large geographic area, including water quality, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), coastal habitats, and community resilience.
2026 Awarded Projects
This project will expand native landscapes and promote water quality stewardship through nature-based stormwater management and education at four North Carolina public schools and the N.C. Coastal Federation's Center for Coastal Protection and Restoration in Newport. The project also will support rehabilitation of a constructed stormwater wetland in Manteo in partnership with the Town of Manteo and N.C. State University, while also engaging Dare County Early College students in hands-on water quality monitoring and field experiences. The funding amount requested was $91,600 with $30,421 leveraged.
This project seeks to deepen understanding and knowledge exchange among Down East communities on the front lines of environmental change. Videos will highlight leadership, adaptation, and community-driven responses to flooding and other natural hazards. The project creates opportunities for mutual learning and exchange among participating communities with in-person gatherings to share ideas, including a September 2026 meeting to reflect on eight years of recovery and resilience following Hurricane Florence. The funding amount is $29,700 with $52,600 leveraged.
The project will host a series of educational workshops that will focus on water quality, estuarine habitats, and the key stakeholders and governance structures that oversee water quality in the watershed. The Museum of Life and Science will also offer field site visits in the watershed to provide opportunities for hands-on, outdoor experiences. Site visits will also include training on community science tools and methods and provide an introduction to volunteer opportunities at each site. The funding amount requested is $25,000.
The School of Rockfish project, which highlights the APNEP region and careers in science, will engage approximately 2,000 more students in hands-on learning about Rockfish (Striped Bass) and the region’s watershed. Participating classrooms will raise newly hatched rockfish fry through early stages of development before releasing them into local waters. The funding amount is $57,915 with $143,176 leveraged.
Grant funding provides field science equipment and expands environmental education programs at Camp Boddie, East Carolina Council’s (ECC) 880-acre facility on the Pamlico Sound in Beaufort County. The project will support Post 0422 Explorers in developing and leading field science programming. Explorers will learn water quality monitoring, habitat assessment and shoreline ecology while serving as trained peer mentors for visiting groups. Scout troops attending weekend programs at Camp Boddie will use field equipment, the Camp Boddie Field Guide and Scouting merit badge curriculum to explore topics including environmental science, soil and water conservation, oceanography, weather, fish and wildlife management, sustainability, nature and landscape architecture. Public school students also will participate in hands-on shoreline field experiences, with opportunities expected to expand as the Camp Boddie Field Guide is completed and shared through the STEM East network with assistance from the N.C. Coastal Federation and Sound Rivers. The funding amount requested is $36,850 with $12,000 leveraged.
In partnership with Carteret Community College, East Carolina University and North Carolina Sea Grant, this project will develop educational materials and deliver a Living Shoreline Academy course for participants in Beaufort County. The Mid-East Commission will assist with advertisement, including promoting the course locally and recruiting students. The project builds on the participation in the NC Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP) by Beaufort County, Town of Aurora, Town of Bath, Town of Belhaven, City of Washington, and Town of Washington Park. The funding amount requested is $49,177.50 with $1,400 leveraged.
This project will test different interpretive sign designs that inform people about the flora, fauna and ecological processes in three sites in eastern North Carolina. The team will work in the North Carolina Coastal Reserve’s Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve, Bertie Beach, and the Roanoke/Cashie River Center. The funding amount requested is $4,325 with $48,559 leveraged.
Along the waterfront adjacent to the North Carolina Estuarium, participants will engage in hands-on science and nature exploration focused on coastal ecosystems and water quality. Learning stations will explore topics including shoreline hardening, sea level rise, ghost forests, sedimentation and water quality through interactive activities and scientific tools.
The project will also support an oyster-focused program that connects food, science and coastal resources. Educators and local oyster farmers will share perspectives on oyster ecology and the environmental and economic importance of oyster production. Participants will use the new N.C. Seafood School space and equipment to learn about locally grown oysters from project partners. The funding amount requested is $4,396 with $4,890 leveraged.