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South Dakota programs receive $100k in environmental education grant funding

Release Date: 08/25/2011
Contact Information:

Grants support local watershed monitoring and environmental education in South Dakota

Contact: Lisa McClain-Vanderpool (303)312-6077; Wendy Dew (303)312-6605

(Denver, Colo.-August 25, 2011) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded over $100,000 to two South Dakota programs to enhance environmental education in the state.

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology was awarded $69,000 to carry out a watershed management and monitoring program with students of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and at Oglala Lakota College on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The effort will train high school and college students in water monitoring including sampling, field measurement, data analysis and the presentation of findings in public meetings. (Contact: Jennifer Benning (605)394-2425, Jennifer.Benning@sdsmt.edu)

A second grant, in the amount of $36,021 was awarded to the South Dakota Discovery Center, based in Pierre, to develop a statewide plan for environmental literacy through collaboration with key educational institutions and stakeholders in the state. The project will build the capacity of state agencies and organizations to deliver environmental education by improving awareness, knowledge base and skills that South Dakota youth can apply in problem solving and decision making on environmental issues. (Contact: Anne Lewis (605)224-8295, annelewis@sd-discovery.com)

“Environmental Education grants are extremely competitive and this year's grantees represent the best of the best," said Wendy Dew, EPA Region 8 environmental education coordinator. "These are innovative projects that will advance community awareness and shape the next generation of environmental stewards."

Under the 1990 National Environmental Education Act, EPA has the authority to support and create environmental education programs nationwide. Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations, government agencies, community groups, tribes, schools and universities. More information about EPA’s environmental education grants program is available at https://www.epa.gov/education/grants.html.