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EE 2007 Headquarters Grants
Environmental Education Grants Awarded by EPA Headquarters in 2007.
California
The Bay Institute of San Francisco
$92,882
Grant Davis, 500 Palm Drive, Suite 200, Novato, CA 94949
The Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed (STRAW) Project
The STRAW Project educates kindergarten through grade 12 teachers, community educators, and students about environmental issues specific to the San Francisco Bay region. Participants gain knowledge, skills, and experience in environmental science and place-based learning methodologies that ultimately improve community environmental stewardship. Teachers and community educators participate in a 3-day training institute and subsequent workshops that focus on hands-on scientific studies of riparian and wetland ecosystems, restoration methodology, and local land use history. STRAW helps teachers develop methods for integrating environmental topics into the standard curriculum. Students attend presentations that explain the land use history, environmental problems, and objectives and methods of restoration for the specific watersheds where they will be working. The presentations prepare students to participate in professionally designed restoration projects on rural and urban creeks, including revegetation with native plants; removal of non-native invasive species; and sophisticated biotechnical work for erosion repair in riparian corridors. Students develop presentations based on data collected in the field and deliver them to other classes and STRAW staff members. Key project partners include the Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program, Marin Resource Conservation District, Sonoma County Water Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Point Reyes Bird Observatory.
University of the Pacific
$69,626
Carol A. Brodie, 3601 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95211
Environmental Education at the Terrestrial-Marine Interface
This project is a collaborative effort that links the curriculum agendas at the University of the Pacific and the University of California, Davis, to foster interest in environmentally related career paths and to broaden societal awareness about environmental issues and the need for stewardship. The project provides formal environmental education experiences for undergraduate and graduate students through summer research projects and three class modules. During the modules, the students measure three beach profiles at locations along the Northern California coastline to evaluate beach erosion and monitor water quality and water flows in several watersheds along the Northern California coastline and in the coastal ocean. The students also learn about environmental careers during panel discussions with environmental professionals. The modules promote critical thinking and decision-making skills, cultivate stewardship, and encourage environmental careers. Each module concludes with student participants creating displays for community interaction and education and developing fact sheets and teaching packets for high school educators. A project Web site is also developed to provide a central clearinghouse for downloadable versions of teaching materials to ensure they are widely available and applied.
Illinois
Chicago Public Schools, District #299
$86,303
John Schmidt, 125 South Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60603
Adopt-an-Ecosystem Initiative
This initiative engages teachers and high school students in low-income communities in service-learning projects that strengthen and enhance the science curriculum and restore and conserve critical urban green and waterway spaces throughout the City of Chicago. Partnering organizations engage schools near identified ecosystems and deliver training, support, and curriculum resources. Teachers who participate in the Adopt-an-Ecosystem Initiative attend workshops to receive training that provides them with tools to enhance their knowledge of environmental issues. Teachers use classroom curricula to prepare students for stewardship activities. In turn, students learn about threats to the environment, including invasive species, development, pollution, and neglect. They also consider strategies for developing responses to restoring and conserving natural areas in the city. After the classroom lessons, students complete initial site assessments of the ecosystem chosen and spend multiple days involved in on-site restoration and conservation. Partners on this project are the Alliance of the Great Lakes, Friends of the Parks, Friends of the Chicago River, and the Field Museum.
Utah
Utah Society for Environmental Education
$92,100
Jennifer Visitacion, 350 South 400 East, Suite G4, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Utah Project for Excellence in Environmental Education
Strengthening the capacity and quality of environmental education programs, non-formal educational programs, and teacher partnerships in Utah are among the goals of this project. The Utah Society for Environmental Education is inventorying state environmental programs and materials related to energy conservation, air quality, water quality, and waste management issues. A needs assessment is being conducted to identify how to best support kindergarten through grade 12 teachers throughout Utah to improve the use of environmental education as an integrated context for teaching the core curriculum. A focus group is discussing the results of the inventory and needs assessment to decide how many teachers are integrating environmental education topics into their lesson plans and the best strategy for supporting teachers to make environmental education an integral part of what they do. In addition, the focus group is developing an implementation strategy for a model program to help guide non-formal environmental educators throughout Utah about how to effectively correlate their programs to the state core curriculum while inspiring and empowering students to become more environmentally literate. Partners on this project include the Utah State Office of Education, Utah State University Water Quality Extension, Utah Project WET, Pine View High School, Utah House, Tracy Aviary, and Four Corners School of Outdoor Education/Bioregional Outdoor Education Project.
Virginia
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
$62,156
Ann M. Regn, 629 East Main Street, P.O. Box 10009, Richmond, VA 23240-0009
Building Statewide Capacity by Supporting Four Regional Alliances in Virginia
Virginia’s master/business plan for environmental education for community-based programs that was adopted in 2004 is implemented through this project. The goal of the project is to build the capacity and sustainability of environmental education in the State of Virginia by implementing the plan and developing leaders to revise the plan in 2010. To achieve this goal, the Virginia Office of Environmental Education is: (1) establishing at least three regional environmental education alliances; (2) increasing membership and collaboration in regional alliances; (3) providing an annual meeting and leadership forum; (4) conducting a strategic planning and needs assessment in each region; (5) providing 3 days of professional development to meet the needs identified by each region; and (6) recognizing community-based initiatives and community environmental education leaders. This project employs a full array of communication and education techniques, including monthly electronic newsletters; Web sites; meetings; professional development workshops; an annual conference; strategic planning exercises; and printed materials aimed at increasing partnerships, and facilitating communication and networking. The project helps community-based educators connect their programs to the public, link to other statewide or local programs, and find and leverage support for their programs. The primary partner on this project is the Virginia Resource – Use Education Council.
