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EPA awards regional environmental education grants

Release Date: 07/21/2009
Contact Information: CONTACT: Karen Thompson, 312-353-8547, thompson.karen@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-OPA131

(Chicago) - July 21, 2009 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has awarded $188,000 in grants for projects to enhance K-12 environmental education and awareness in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

These annual grants are given to tribes, community groups, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, schools and universities.

"We hope the 2009 grants improve environmental literacy through programs that engage communities in hands-on learning and promote awareness for the conservation of the natural world," said Megan Gavin, environmental education grants coordinator in EPA's Region 5. The 2009 environmental education grant recipients are:

Indiana
Indiana Wildlife Federation, Zionsville, $22,500. For an Environmental Habitat Steward Certificate program that provides focused environmental and ecological training to regional and landscape planners, architects, project designers, engineers, contractors and developers. Contact Benjamin Reinhart, 317-875-9453.

Wisconsin
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, Milwaukee, $20,074. For the Wisconsin Forest History and Urban Forestry program that educates at-risk students ages 7-18 about Wisconsin's urban forests and vegetation and the important role they play in the students' lives. Contact Jeremy Simon, 414-267-8100.

Illinois
Friends of the Fox River, Crystal Lake, $39,010. For the Fox River Watershed Monitoring Network to monitor Fox River water quality. The funds go to teachers and students from underserved areas for collecting data on the biological, chemical and physical water trends along the river. Contact Jenni Kempf, 815-356-6605.

Angelic Organics Learning Center, Inc., Caledonia, $18,439. To create a healthy foods system and teach farm-based environmental education to youth peer-educators (6th to 12th grade) and teachers through hands-on food and farming activities. Contact Tom Spaulding, 815-389-8455.

Michigan
Kent County Conservation District, Grand Rapids, $16,860. For the Connecting Families with Nature Passport program to increase family-level participation in their children's environmental education and outdoor experiences via Kent County environmental groups. Contact Robert Holst, 616-942-4111.

Ohio
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Cincinnati, $30,000. For the Mountain Ecology Experience, a course that provides low-income students with hands-on training and broad exposure to environmental issues and potential solutions for the mountain ecosystem. Contact Ann Gunkel, 513-569-1783.

Minnesota
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Red Lake, $41,117. For the Red Lake Reservation Water Festival and citizen science projects where fifth graders and teachers monitor and collect data from the Red Lake watershed. They present the data at the Water Festival to increase natural resource awareness and watershed pollution prevention among the general public. Contact Jenilynn Bohm, 218-679-3959.