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Two Maine Groups Receive $70,000 of EPA Environmental Education Grants

Release Date: 10/20/2003
Contact Information: Margot Perez-Sullivan, EPA Press Office (617-918-1060)

BOSTON- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it has awarded $14,957 of $198,700 in environmental education grants to two Maine organizations. The two organizations are among 20 recipients throughout New England.

Selected from among 89 applicants nationwide, the two Maine organizations that received the grants were the University of Maine, Orono and Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation, Gorham.

The grants are targeted to organizations that tackle community issues, teacher training and development of environmental curricula.

"Environmental education is an important building block for ensuring a safe and healthy environment for future generations," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England Office. "These grants will support many of the state's most exciting environmental education programs focusing on such issues as water ecology, and environmental education curriculum."

• Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation is receiving $9,957 for its Regional Watershed Watch program to empower students to become involved and environmentally conscious citizens. The program will tailor curricula needs to meet the local community issues for easy implementation and will provide lessons designed to stimulate student curiosity about their local watershed and inspire them to take an active role in preservation and restoration.
  
• The University of Maine is receiving $5,000 for the MERGE (Maine Environmental Research Grid and Education) program. MERGE partners research scientists with K-12th grade teachers to develop teaching skills by familiarizing teachers with locating and utilizing different types of environmental data, including water quality, weather, atmospheric and biological information. MERGE will hold workshops for teachers through 2004 that provide strategies, techniques and informational guides on environmental education