All News Releases By Date

Environmental education projects in CO 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:
800 277-8917 x7814

Denver -- Continuing its commitment to increase understanding of the importance of protecting the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded 9 environmental education projects in Colorado 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:

FrontRange Earth Force $5,000
2555 W. 34th Ave., Denver, CO 80211
Contact: Lisa Bardwell 303 433-0016
The FrontRange Earth Force Training and Support program will build capacity among educators to encourage students' exploration of urban environmental issues.

Ignacio Unified School District $4,980
315 Becker P.O. Box 460, Ignacio, CO 81137
Contact: Julie Somers 970 563-0500
This project's goal is to research, design and implement a streambank remediation plan within the city's only park. The project will revegetate the park's dirt entry next to the stream emphasizing native plants.

Meet the Wilderness $5,000
P.O. Box 4359, Edwards, CO 81632
Contact: Tom McCalden 907 926-9376
Youth from the Eagle River Valley will immerse themselves in a wilderness environment with the goal that they will become informed future leaders as they face issues of growth, sprawl and open space conservation. The Ecological Leadership School will be conducted in the summer of 2002 for disadvantaged and minority high school students from Battle Mountain High School.

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory $5,000
13401 Piccadilly Road, Brighton, CO 80601
Contact: Shelly Morrell 303 659-1046
School children and teachers will have the hands-on opportunity to experience migratory birds at an educational bird banding station.

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps $15,000
2464 Downfill Drive, Unit WO6, P.O. Box 775504
Contact: Gretchen Van De Carr 970 879-2135
Environmental Education Mentors includes 18-25 year-olds who coordinate and implement curricula for the Conservation Corps and Science School groups. The project's goal is to develop environmental stewards, encourage environmental careers, link generations through mentoring, and give students a sense of place and ownership.

Summit Recycling Project $4,750
P.O. Box 4506, Frisco, CO 80443
Contact: Kay Beaton 970 668-5703
Eco-Cycle's one-week lesson plan will address recycling and waste reduction issues at Summit County's six elementary schools. The lesson includes slide shows, overheads, experiments, games and extension activities, with information available in Spanish and English.

Thorne Ecological Institute $5,000
5398 Manhattan Circle, Suite 120, Denver, CO 80303
Contact: Pat Comeux 303 499-3647
The program builds capacity in local organizations, creates hands-on environmental education in classrooms and on field trips, increases teachers science-based environmental education skills, and promotes educational reform by tying its programs to state science hour requirements. A minimum of 10 training hours per teacher, and a total of 4,200 hours will be delivered through the program.

Two Ponds Preservation Foundation $5,000
5400 Ward Road, Suite 100, Arvada, CO 80002
Contact: Janet Torma-Krajewski 303 423-2069
School groups will learn the value of native vegetation in a semi-arid climate by completing environmental lessons. Homeowners and local organizations will be invited to attend special programs.

University of Colorado $5,000
Campus Box 572, Boulder, CO 80309-0572
Contact: Susan M. Buhr 303 492-5657
The grant will support equipment, transportation and operational costs for CU's Earthworks 2001: Earth System Science for Teachers Workshop.