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EPA Awards Environmental Education Grants - Mass.

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 Massachusetts will receive six environmental education grants totaling $32,091 to advance teacher and student interest and proficiency in the environment.

"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."

The Boston Public Schools will receive $4,600 to begin teaching 9th and 10th graders from New Mission High School to test water samples from their homes, school, and community to learn firsthand about the potential impacts of the environment on water quality and also learn about water chemistry and biology. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is a partner in the program.

WOMR FM, a non-commercial educational radio station in Provincetown, MA, will receive $5,000 to expand its Cape Cod Environmental Round Table. The round table raises public awareness on important environmental issues facing Cape Codders. Guest speakers present on key topics to a listening audience of some 2,500 people.

The Glover Elementary School of the Milton Public School system will receive $5,000 for its Neponset River Watershed Curriculum Project. Partnering with the Westport River Watershed Alliance, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, and Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, this project creates a long-term interdisciplinary watershed curriculum on the Neponset River Watershed. Teachers receive specialized training in watershed management, and through their partners will offer 425 elementary school children in grades K-5 interesting classroom activities and guided field trips .

Patriot Girl Scouts in Boston, MA, will receive $8,623 for its E3 Environmental Education Experiences program. Using existing hands-on environmental education curricula and methods, 60 teams, totaling 1,000 girl scouts, scout adult volunteers, and teen peer leaders, will be trained on a variety of environmental topics with activities.

Springfield Library & Museums in Springfield, MA, will receive $4,850 for its River Education Awareness Program that allows urban teens (8th-12th grade) to actively participate in evaluating the historic Mill River in Springfield. Students conduct water quality tests, survey the river's surroundings and sample for indicator invertebrates. Teachers will receive training on incorporating ecosystems issues into their schedules and meeting the state frameworks. The program will reach 2,000 middle and high school students.

Swampscott Public Schools will receive $4,018 for its Adopt-A-Salmon program. In partnership with the US Fish &Wildlife teachers and facilitators receive training on ecological principles and watershed/ecosystem management. One hundred fifty 5th grade children will learn about water quality and fish development from tending to a 30-gallon salmon tank set up in their classroom. Before releasing the fish, students will visit a US Fish and Wildlife-run salmon hatchery.

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.