All News Releases By Date

Environmental education projects in UT get a boost from EPA

Release Date: 8/7/2001
Contact Information:
800 227-8917 x6605,

Release Date: 8/7/2001
Contact Information:
800 227-8917 x6613,

Release Date: 8/7/2001
Contact Information:
800 227-8917 x7814

Denver -- Continuing its commitment to increase understanding of the importance of protecting the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded 5 environmental education projects in Utah this year.

"These grants support projects that enhance public awareness, knowledge and skills, so people can make informed decisions that affect environmental quality," Acting Regional Administrator Jack McGraw said, "These kinds of hands-on projects involve students of all ages and promote the understanding that we are inextricably connected to and dependent on the environment."

Since 1992, EPA has awarded $20 million in grants. For more information on EPA's Environmental Education Grant program, visit https://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html.

The winning projects for 2001 are:

Cornell Lab of Ornithology $5,000
159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850
Contact: Michael S. Lenetsky 607 255-6306
The Classroom Feeder Watch Workshop Leader Training will recruit and train educators to be workshop leaders. The workshop will use an interdisciplinary curriculum and standards-based resource kit and it will be held at Utah State University in Logan. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's mission is to interpret and conserve biological diversity through research, education and citizen science focused on birds.

Garfield County School District $5,000
P.O. Box 398, 145 E. Center, Panguitch, UT 84759
Contact: Marilyn Blulkley 435 676-8238
The grant will be used to teach 5th-8th graders about watershed restoration and management of the local watershed. Students will learn through hands-on demonstrations, outdoor activities and interactive discussions with teachers and natural resource professionals.

University of Utah $5,000
1471 Federal Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Contact: Lynne Chronister 801 581-3003
The annual "River of Words Outdoor Classroom" event at the University of Utah's Red Butte Garden and Arboretum reaches 120 students per year. Red Butte's mission is to increase understanding of regional horticulture and ecology, support research and education, and model responsible environmental conservation.

Utah Society for Environmental Education $25,0000
350 South 400 East, Suite G4, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Contact: Tim Brown 801 328-1549
Funds will be used to establish a writing team of 6-12 people who will become leaders in Utah's environmental education community, train at least 100 educators on specific guidelines for environmental education, disseminate the guidelines to 150 environmental educators and present the guidelines at educator conferences and natural resource meetings, and to media representatives.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources $10,825
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301
Contact: Brian Nicholson 435 797-2580
Through a volunteer wetlands monitoring program, citizens will expand their knowledge of wetland resources in northern Utah, leading to more informed decisions. Participants will include four high school teachers, about 80 students, two landowners who have wetlands on their property, and 40 citizen volunteers who have a stake in local wetlands, such as hunters, birders and members of conservation organization.