MEDIA CONTACT: Megan Lehman, meglehman@pa.gov
Williamsport, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today awarded a little over $1 million in 2022 Environmental Education Grant funding to 73 projects statewide, including 10 projects in the northcentral region.
"The Shapiro Administration is committed to delivering practical solutions to the environmental and safety issues our communities face from climate change and water pollution," said DEP Acting Secretary Rich Negrin. "Pennsylvania's environmental educators help provide these solutions. Through impactful work in the field, classroom, and neighborhood, they engage Pennsylvanians of all ages and backgrounds in projects that can have immediate local impacts and spark lasting environmental stewardship."
The Environmental Education Grant program prioritizes projects that engage youth or adults who live, work, or attend school in environmental justice areas. It also prioritizes projects that educate participants to develop practical solutions and take action to help their communities become more climate change resilient or reduce water pollution to improve local water quality.
"Fully 83 percent of this grant funding supports educational projects that will benefit Environmental Justice communities, as we continue to expand our work to help Pennsylvanians most at risk from pollution, climate change related hazards, and other environmental impacts," said Negrin.
Funding was awarded to schools and colleges, environmental and community organizations, and county conservation districts for a range of hands-on programs for students, community projects for adults, teacher training workshops, and more.
Ranging from eels in the classroom to downspout planters installed along a Main Street and more, 10 projects in northcentral counties received a total of $156,131.
Statewide
- Pennsylvania Envirothon, Inc.: $62,981 for classroom learning and field opportunities for high school student teams at county, state and national levels. Students analyze issues and identify solutions in five categories: Soils/Land Use, Aquatic Ecology, Wildlife, Forestry, and Current Environmental Issue (climate change, water quality/quantity, or green infrastructure). More than 60 county teams are expected to participate at the state event, hosted by Middleburg-based Pennsylvania Envirothon, Inc.
Bradford
- Bradford County Conservation District: $29,942 to hold a Forestry Education Symposium, providing two Forestry Education events for private landowners, forestry professionals, and logging professionals who are interested in expanding their knowledge of forest practices, sustainability, and forest health. Eight conservation districts as well as the Northern Tier Hardwood Association will partner to host the events. Each event will include multiple guest speakers and a field tour.
- Bradford County Conservation District: $4,912 to supply six school districts with the necessary materials, curriculum, resources, and guidance to implement Eels in the Classroom, an interdisciplinary, standards-based, educational experience throughout the 2023/2024 school year and beyond.
Cameron
- Cameron County Conservation District: $5,000 to hold several elementary and high school student field studies, along with adult-based workshops and community events. Hands-on activities and demonstrations will address water issues involving flooding and climate change.
Centre
- Bald Eagle Area Middle/High School: $30,000 to develop a high school environmental science curriculum that addresses water and climate change. The project will create units based on the United Nations Sustainable Development goals, including: (1) Life on Land, (2) Clean Water and Sanitation, (3) Affordable and Clean Energy, (4) Climate Action, (5) Zero Hunger, and (6) Responsible Production and Consumption. Students will compare local watershed policies/issues to those within designated environmental justice areas.
- Pennsylvania State University: $5,000 to extend the Nature Explorers summer camp an additional week, to help further engage youth (grades 2-4) in an expanded air quality curriculum. Using air quality monitors, participants will collect real world air and water quality data, report their findings, and learn how to be environmental stewards.
Columbia
- Columbia County Conservation District: $4,998 to partner with the Borough of Berwick to construct and install approximately 15 downspout planters at homes along main streets in the Borough. Hold at least one public workshop addressing benefits of downspout planters and other ways to reduce stormwater runoff, non-point source pollution, and improve water quality.
Northumberland
- Bucknell University: $5,000 to pilot a Resiliency Workshop series in key places around Shamokin. Experts will share information with residents on topics such as food waste, native plants, energy efficiency, water quality, and alternative forms of energy. A fun activity will be developed to foster community engagement.
Potter
- Potter County Conservation District: $5,000 to use a stream simulation table to help municipal officials and workers understand stream processes and concepts related to stream management and in-stream construction.
Snyder
- Snyder County Conservation District: $3,298 to host two rain barrel workshops for residents and business owners of Snyder County who are interested in learning about storm water management. Each participant will receive one complete rain barrel and rain gutter garden for installation at their property.
The Environmental Education Grants Program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which mandates setting aside 5 percent of the pollution fines and penalties DEP collects annually for environmental education in Pennsylvania. To date, DEP has awarded $13.3 million in Environmental Education Grant funding to support 2,199 projects.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, please visit the website or follow DEP on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
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