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EPA Awards $88,866 to three Illinois organizations for environmental education programs

Release Date: 07/21/2006
Contact Information: Megan Gavin, (312) 353-5282, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No.06-OPA125

CHICAGO (July 21, 2006) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has awarded a $43,345 grant to the Chicago Department of Environment, a $10,000 grant to the CSA Learning Center in Caledonia, Ill., and a $35,521 grant to Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Ill., for innovative environmental education projects.

The three Illinois groups are among 10 organizations in EPA's six-state Region 5 that received a total of $187,200 in environmental education grant money this year. More than 100 proposals were received from groups in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

"These creative projects inspire environmental stewardship in communities throughout the Midwest," said Region 5 Acting Administrator Bharat Mathur. "We recognize the winners' imaginative approaches to environmental education."

The Chicago Department of Environment's "Growing Green" education curriculum will be used by local university interns to teach students in 24 Chicago public schools about environmental issues in an urban community. Students will explore environmental issues and create videos on various topics including recycling.

CSA Learning Center's "Roots and Wings" program serves at-risk youth in the Rockford, Ill., area. Youth enjoy hands-on farm and garden education culminating in a student-led farmer's market business and a play for the community about food, health and the environment.

Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Ill., is partnering with the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center to create a program involving conflict management on environmental policy issues. High school teachers and their students from southwest Illinois will participate in on-site scenarios that will lead to resolution of environmental issues among groups with diverse opinions and interests.

EPA grants are awarded yearly under the National Environmental Education Act, which was passed in 1990 to stimulate environmental education through design, demonstration and communications projects conceived by local organizations.

For more information on Region 5's environmental education program go to http://epa.gov/region5/enved/.