All News Releases By Date

EPA Awards Environmental Education Grants - VT

Release Date: 08/24/2000
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Community Affairs Office, (617) 918-1064 Kristen Conroy, Environmental Education Coordinator, (617) 918-1069

Boston - EPA New England today announced that two Vermont education partnerships received a total of $28,460 in environmental education grants from the agency. The Lake Champlain Science Center will receive $23,500, and the Association of Vermont Recyclers will receive $4,960.

"EPA is helping teachers across New England who want to bring environmental education into their classrooms," said Mindy Lubber, regional administrator for EPA New England. "These grants challenge educators to find new and creative ways to teach students about the environment."

Lake Champlain Science Center, in partnership with the Vermont Institute for Science, Math, and Technology, has developed the Eco-Peers project. Working with twenty middle and high school teachers, the group will develop a standards-based curriculum about the Lake Champlain basin, create water quality kits and materials, and publish the curriculum on the Science Center web page. The group estimates that the curriculum will be used in classrooms reaching 400 students each year.

The Vermont Association of Recyclers is widely recognized for its environmental theater troupe and original plays which have toured K-8 schools throughout Vermont for more than eight years. The grant money will be used to explore the ease with which the Association can bring its resources to neighboring states. The group tours six elementary/middle schools, (reaching about 1,250 students and 65 teachers), educating them on environmental issues through theater. The group also hosts training for teachers to incorporate this creative form of teaching into their work plans.

EPA New England received more than 100 applications requesting a total of $1.4 million. The agency awarded $100,000 in grants for 13 projects. The EPA funds environmental education projects that focus on improving teaching skills for educators, typically through workshops; educating teachers, students, or the public about the environment and potential health problems stemming from environmental pollution; helping states or communities to develop and deliver environmental education programs; or promoting environmental careers among students.