E.P.A. awards $80,000 to the Pacific American Foundation to educate Hawaiian students on local watersheds

(11/10/15) SAN FRANCISCO - The E.P.A. has awarded an environmental education grant of $80,000 to the Pacific American Foundation located in Kaneohe, Hawaii. The goal of the program, Wisdom of the Watershed, is to enhance environmental science education by increasing the interest of Hawaii's youth in science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines through culturally-relevant curriculum and meaningful outdoor watershed educational experiences.

The plan will help 6th through twelfth grade students explore and compare 3 different watersheds in Hawaii with different land management practices. Students will take field trips partnered with research scientists and will measure water quality in the watersheds using scientific instrumentation. The microbial and sediment environments will also be sampled. Students will analyze the collected data and engage in service learning plans to enhance environmental quality throughout the watersheds.

"Hawaii's watersheds are unique," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA's Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "The Pacific American Foundation will teach the next generation of scientists to protect and manage these critical natural resources."

"The Pacific American Foundation's program, Wisdom of the Watershed, provides environmental educational by engaging students, in current, ongoing environmental research through partnerships with University researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, and public and private sector businesses, thus providing relevance in STEM learning and a profound understanding of both the scientific and engineering processes," said Derek Esibill, Plan Director of the Wisdom of the Watershed Program. "Concurrently, the Plan engages teachers by tailoring their curriculum to enable students to participate in ridge to reef expeditions. These expeditions use cultural, place-based research plans to create meaningful outdoor experiences, increasing the interest of Hawai`i's youth to pursue pathways in STEM careers."

EPA's Environmental Education Local Grants Plan supports environmental education plans that increase the public's awareness and provide them with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the environment. The EPA's Pacific Southwest Regional Office received over 80 applications this year, and the Pacific American Foundation plan is one of 7 plans in the Pacific Southwest Region that will gain an environmental education grant.

For more information on Environmental Education Grants, please visit: www2.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-ee-grants

For more information on the Pacific American Foundation, please visit: www.pacificamerican.foundation

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