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Environmental Education Grants Support Local Schools

Release Date: 9/14/2000
Contact Information: Sally Hanft
hanft.sally@epamail.epa.gov
(206) 553-1207

September 14, 2000 - - - - - - - - - - - - 00-048



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As schools are beginning to open their doors for the new school year, some educators in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska are beginning to utilize $100,000 in federal grants that will integrate learning with the environment. Thirteen grants were announced this month by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Northwest Regional Office.

The grants were awarded to local organizations, government agencies, schools and universities whose projects strive to increase people’s knowledge and awareness about the environment and its associated challenges. The grant recipients are as follows:

ALASKA

•Alaska Discovery Foundation, Inc. / Discovery Southeast, Juneau, Using Local Nature for Environmental Educators - $4,975
•Calypso Farm and Ecology Center, Ester, Calypso’s Farm and Ecology Program - $5,000
•Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, Inc., Homer, Caretakers of the Beach - $4,450
•Matanuska Susitna Borough School District / Wasilla High School, Palmer, Groundwater Detectives - $5,000

IDAHO

•Communities Creating Connections, Inc., Kooskia, Clearwater GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) Initiative - $13,963

OREGON

•Crook County Soil and Water Conservation District, Prineville, Crooked River Watershed Council Monitoring Education and Involvement Project - $3,700
•Eastern Oregon University/ School of Education and Business, La Grande, Weaving a WEB - $20,061
•Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology / Saturday Academy Department, Beaverton, Instruction and Coordination of Two Youth Tree Inventory Project Teams - $5,000
•Oregon State University / Environmental Health Sciences Center, Corvallis, Science Inquiry Through Environmental Health Science Education - $4,951

WASHINGTON

•City of Tumwater Public Works, Tumwater, Percival Creek: Habitat Education, Restoration and Stewardship - $19,020
•Columbia Basin College / Math/Science Division, Pasco, Mid-Columbia Basin Shrub-Steppe Study - $4,990
•Lake Washington School District / Environmental and Adventure School, Redmond, Finn Hill Watershed Education Project - $3,880
•Salish Sea Expeditions, Bainbridge Island, Turning Middle School Students into “Real” Marine Scientists: an Integrated, Hands-on Approach to Science Education - $5,000

“Educators in the Pacific Northwest are eager to integrate environmental problem solving into their lessons,” Said Chuck Findley, Acting Regional Administrator for the EPA. “These projects represent some of the most innovative ideas in developing an appreciation for the earth and encouraging citizens to make informed decisions.”

EPA is currently soliciting grant applications for the coming year. Schools, not-for-profit organizations, state and local government education or environmental agencies, and tribal education agencies or not-for-profit tribal organizations may apply. The annual EPA grants program gives financial support to projects that increase the public’s awareness and knowledge about the environment, and provide skills to make informed decisions and take responsible action.

Application information is available on the EPA website: www.epa/r10earth.gov or by calling 1-800-424-4372. Applications must be postmarked by November 15, 2000.