BOSTON - 4 Massachusetts organizations were awarded a total of $275,332 by the E.P.A. for programs that will educate the community about climate change and other environmental issues. The programs selected were among 7 New England groups awarded a total of $533,000 by E.P.A. for programs that educate the community about climate change and other environmental issues.
Greenagers, Incorporated in Great Barrington, Mass., "e" Incorporated of Boston, New England Environmental Alliance of Devens and the Massachusetts Audubon Society in Lincoln were among nearly 4 dozen organizations in New England to apply for funding. Other winning programs came from Vermont, Maine and Connecticut.
"These organizations are doing just the kind of work that is so important for the future of our 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 develop solutions for a well-protected and healthy New England environment."
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.
The Massachusetts programs chosen for backing were:
Greenagers, Incorporated in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, was given $36,700 for a two-year plan called Crafting the Landscape. Greenagers will work with 2 middle schools and a cooperative grocery store in an after-school and summer environmental education project. About 100 underserved youth will work with their forests, watersheds, and local agriculture by creating virtual communities and environmental goals in the video game, Minecraft, and translating these goals into service plans in the community. The plans will focus on climate change, toxics, and water protection. Students are expected to gain nearly 200 hours of plan time and contribute about 40 hours of community service.
"Greenagers looks forward to engaging our youth in the conversation and community work regarding climate and natural resources," said Will Conklin, executive director of Greenagers. "Funding from the E.P.A. Environmental Education grant plan means we can reach more youth and take them more deeply into this most important work. My thanks to the E.P.A. for making this opportunity possible."
"e" Incorporated of Boston was given $88,000 for a one-year plan called Afterschool Planet Protector Teams. The organization partners with community centers and local schools to provide weekly afterschool programs that educate urban youth about environmental science. The 33-week plan includes 540 kindergarten to 5th graders. Each location chooses a curriculum topic related to the environment and the weekly session entails hands-on science activities aligned with state and Next Generation Science Standards. Students learn to make a difference on their topic and create short videos on their projects.
"The environment science learning and action center in Boston -- is thrilled by this opportunity to bring STEM education, paired with hands-on plans that make a difference, to 8 low-income after-school sites in Boston and 6 in Somerville through the generosity of this E.P.A. program," said Ricky Stern, executive director of "e" Incorporated "Up to 500 children from 1st to 5th grades will be reached and every child will make a change for the better in their school or community.
New England Environmental Alliance of Devens, Massachusetts, received $81,000 for a 1.5-year plan called Advancing Climate Change Education in New England. This plans creates 8 coordinated summits designed for environmental and educational professionals and organizations to expand and enhance climate change education in New England. Summits will be held in each New England state along with 2 regional conferences. Each state intends to focus its climate change education summit to a specific topic i.e. climate change communication, the language of climate change, behavior change, climate resilience in schools and communities, building climate change education. In excess of a thousand professionals are expected to attend these combined summits.
"We are recognized that our plan to advance climate change education throughout the New England region has been selected and supported by E.P.A. New England," said Cynthia Menard, president of the New England Environmental Education Alliance. "We are thrilled to be kicking off this start of a year-long series of conferences, workshops and seminars, all looking at innovations in climate change education, in every state in New England."
Massachusetts Aububon Society of Lincoln, Mass. was given $69,632 for a two-year plan called Building Climate Action Communities. This plan will create a regional model for working climate change into training and plan planning. Connecticut Audubon Society and Audubon Society of Rhode Island, will partner in this project, infuse climate change into existing community-based environmental education programing. This plan also works with a handful of community organizations looking at ways to integrate the study of regional ecosystems and the effects of climate change on local plants, wildlife, and people. Staff from the Audubons and community organizations will be trained regarding climate change science and communication. The Audubons will be putting in place In excess of 40 pilot programs across the region focused on integrating climate literacy into existing informal environmental educational programs that reach nearly 1,000 people. Community organizations will be putting in place about 30 programs expected to reach nearly 600 people.
"Mass Audubon looks forward to working in collaboration with Connecticut Audubon Society, Audubon Society of Rhode Island and community-based organizations in 3 New England states thanks to this generous award from the EPA," said Kris Scopinich, director of education for Massachusetts Audubon. "Building Climate Action Communities will build climate literacy of staff and increase our ability to connect people with climate change and its regional effects on local ecosystems. The grant will have a significant impact on our combined ability to advance climate change education in the region."
Other New England organizations selected by E.P.A. for grants under this plan include: the New Haven Ecology Plan in New Haven, Conn.; the Vermont Energy Education Plan in Montpelier; and the President & Trustees of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.
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.
