BOSTON - A New Haven, Conn., organization that will educate students at 5 urban high schools through outdoor classrooms was awarded $76,668 by the E.P.A..
The New Haven Ecology Plan was given the backing for a two-year Plan called TEACH CITY, which will help the schools turn their city into a classroom. Students will address issues related to urban waters, air quality, toxins, and other environmental issues. Each high school will identify a Plan with its most pressing environmental challenges and a strategy to fulfill the community project. Each high school will host a visit with other participating high schools to learn about each other's projects.
The plan was one of 7 New England groups awarded a total of $533,000 for programs that educate the community about climate change and other environmental issues. The organizations selected from Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and Maine were among nearly 4 dozen organizations in New England to apply for funding.
"These organizations are doing just the kind of work that is so important for the future of New England's environment," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "Projects that introduce youth, educators and communities to the problems and the possibilities of environmental protection and climate adaptation are bound to help us build a stronger, healthier world."
"We believe that New England's urban public high schools can play a powerful part in creating a new, diverse generation of environmental leaders," said Joel Tolman, director of Impact & engagement at Common Ground High School, Urban Farm, and Environmental Education Center. "We need these young people's leadership -- to build environmental justice, clean up urban waters, address climate change, enhance urban air quality. E.P.A. support is going to help schools step up to this opportunity - bringing together teams from 5 of our region's urban public high schools to build their environmental education capacity and share their practices with others."
EPA's Environmental Education grants encourage plans that educate members of a community through community-based organizations, or through print, film, broadcast, or other media to be more environmentally aware and make environmentally friendly decisions in their day-to-day lives. E.P.A. funds environmental education plans that focus on educating teachers, students, parents or the general public about human health problems. These issues range from pollution; improving teaching tools and techniques for educators through workshops; building state or local capability to develop and deliver environmental education or public outreach programs; or promoting environmental careers and stewardship among students through hands-on activities.
Other New England organizations selected by E.P.A. for grants under this plan include: the Vermont Energy Education Plan in Montpelier; the President & Trustees of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine; Greenagers, Incorporated in Great Barrington, Mass.; "e" Incorporated of Boston; the New England Environmental Alliance of Devens, Mass.; and Massachusetts Aububon Society of Lincoln, Massachusetts
More information:
E.P.A. Environmental Education grants http://www2.epa.gov/education . This location will have information on the 2016 Environmental Education Grant Solicitation Notice, which is expected to be released early in 2016.
