The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering up to $3,000 in individual grants to encourage more wildlife programming in schools. 

The department has around $32,000 to divvy up to eligible educators. It is called the AZ Heritage K-12 Small Grant Program. The funds can be used in a variety of ways, including for professional development — like wildlife workshops.

Eric Proctor, the department's wildlife education coordinator, says the grants could be used to help schools fund nature field trips.

“So they can use that money to cover bus costs so that the district isn’t out to cost to run these field trips. Or if they need a substitute teacher to hang back because sometimes when you do a field trip certain kids can’t go for a variety of reasons," Proctor said. 

He says the application process has been simplified to accommodate teachers’ busy schedules. 

The first deadline to apply is Sept. 1. With the second in January if there are leftover funds.

There’s an info session on Aug. 22.