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Three Vermont Groups Receive $34,000 of EPA Environmental Education Grants

Release Date: 10/20/2003
Contact Information: Margot Perez-Sullivan, EPA Press Office (617-918-1060)

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it has awarded $34,000 of $198,700 in environmental education grants to three Vermont organizations. The three Vermont organizations are among 20 recipients throughout New England.

Selected from among 89 applicants nationwide, the three Vermont organizations who received the grants were the: Association of Vermont Recyclers of Montpelier; Northeast Recycling Council of Bratleboro and Trust for Wildlife of Shaftbury.

The grants are targeted to organizations that tackle community issues, environmental justice, curriculum development and environmental health issues.

"Environmental education is an important building block for ensuring a safe and healthy environment for future generations," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England Office. "These grants will support many of the state's most exciting environmental education programs focusing on such issues as recycling, waste prevention and environmental curriculum development."

• Association of Vermont Recyclers (AVR) is receiving $5,000 for its School Composting Education Program. The program's goal is the creation of a statewide model to educate school populations on the state's mission to reduce solid waste. The funds will be utilized by AVR to educate students and staff on techniques for initiating, implementing and maintaining a composting program. The program, which will emphasize student involvement for grades K-8, incorporates parents, teachers, and school staff through workshops and shows.
  
• Northeast Recycling Council is receiving $24,155 for its New England Strategic Outreach & Education Plan for Reuse and Waste Prevention. The program plans to encourage school and municipal government purchasing agents to reuse and promote waste prevention by cultivating critical thinking and problem solving techniques and applying them to develop an understanding of subsequent environmental benefits. The program will increase the capacity of environmental education programs throughout New England.
  
• Trust for Wildlife is receiving $5,000 for the development of trail system for the 109-acre campus of Mount Anthony Union Middle School (MAUMS). MAUMS acquired agricultural land to build a new middle school and called upon TFW to develop a curriculum strategy, which includes an outdoor laboratory and also incorporates the use of the agricultural, forest and wetland habitats into all school subject areas. The program will develop a wilderness trail and an accompanying interpretive booklet to familiarize students and the community with the area's ecosystem.