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EPA Awards Environmental Education Grants in New Mexico

Release Date: 8/21/1998
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

      The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that four New Mexico projects have been selected to receive nearly $20,000 in Environmental Education grants.

       This annual grant program was designed to promote environmental awareness and responsibility at the grass roots level. Approximately three million dollars will be awarded nationwide this year.

       "Region 6 received more than 100 applications for this year's grant competition and more than $200,000 has been awarded for environmental education projects in the five-state region. This response underscores the concern citizens throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas have for improving and preserving our environment," EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke said.

       The Border Environmental Health Coalition in Mesilla Park was awarded $5,000 to organize an environmental photographic competition for middle school students. Along with photographs of environmental problems in their neighborhoods, contestants will submit essays explaining the probable causes, possible health effects and potential solutions to the problems

       Santa Fe Children's Museum will receive $5,000 to develop an outdoor classroom to further educate the museum's 60,000 annual visitors about the environment of the southwestern United States. Free workshops will enhance the learning experiences provided by the area's greenhouse, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, wetlands, pond, wildlife exhibit areas, weather station and miniature adobe village.

       Salt Missions Trails Main Street in Estancia will use a $5,000 grant for to expose middle school students to the environmental hazards of an old dump and to provide research resources to allow them to develop solutions to the problems they encounter.

       A $5,000 grant to the Santa Fe Botanical Garden will allow the garden to train 20 docents at 40- hour workshops. The docents will train to lead tours through the Leonora Curtin Natural History Area, a native environment next to Santa Fe Community College, and to boost environmental education through presentations at local schools and community organizations.

       Educational institutions, state and tribal environmental or educational agencies, and nonprofit organizations, including public broadcasting agencies, are eligible to apply for Environmental Education grants. Complete information and application forms for1999 grants will soon be available on the Internet at https://www.epa.gov/enviroed. After mid-September, this information also can be obtained by calling EPA Region 6 at (214)665-2204 or (800)887-6063.