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EPA Awards Environmental Education Grant - RI

Release Date: 08/24/2000
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Community Affairs Office, (617) 918-1064 Kristen Conroy, Environmental Education Coordinator, (617) 918-1069

Boston - EPA New England today announced that two Rhode Island education partnerships received a total of $17,450 in environmental education grants from the agency. Keep Providence Beautiful will receive a $5,000 award and the Woonsocket Education Department will receive $12,450 for specific projects to advance environmental literacy among Rhode Island school children.

"EPA is helping teachers across New England who want to bring environmental education into their classrooms," said Mindy Lubber, regional administrator for EPA New England. "These grants challenge educators to find new and creative ways to teach students about the environment."

Keep Providence Beautiful's Summer 2000 Green Team Program works with 40 youths (14-18 yrs old), from eight Providence neighborhoods, to raise awareness about the impacts of the environment in their neighborhood. The program builds a sense of stewardship toward their community and increases participant's commitment to improving environmental conditions. The participants students learn to take initiative to pick up litter, encourage proper waste disposal, undertake neighborhood recycling and clean up vacant lots.

The Woonsocket Education Department will provide a five day teacher training on the Northeast River to encourage in-class programs geared to increasing students' knowledge and understanding of important issues and concepts related to the river, preparing students with the necessary skills to properly investigate and report occurrences along the river, and inspiring students to take action and resolve problems that contribute to the overall deterioration of the river.

EPA New England received more than 100 applications requesting a total of $1.4 million. The agency awarded $100,000 in grants for 13 projects. The EPA funds environmental education projects that focus on improving teaching skills for educators, typically through workshops; educating teachers, students, or the public about the environment and potential health problems stemming from environmental pollution; helping states or communities to develop and deliver environmental education programs; or promoting environmental careers among students.