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Vermont Non-Profit Receives Environmental Education Grant

Release Date: 10/19/2000
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Community Affairs Office, (617) 918-1064

BOSTON - The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Vermont Center for the Book in Chester, Vermont, a $105,569 grant to teach about the environment to low-income, educationally at-risk preschool children and their families.

The center's successful early education program has been used in Vermont for the past two years. This grant will increase training provided to Head Start teachers as well as teachers in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

"This project uses picture books and activities to bring the environment alive to these kids," said Mindy S. Lubber, EPA New England regional administrator. "What better way to prepare young people to be future leaders in protecting the environment than to engage them in stimulating learning opportunities early in life."

The train the trainer model used here expands the opportunities for these teachers to organize and train colleagues in their home states and to increase the number of students learning about the environment. Partnering with the Vermont Center for the Book are the Vermont Institute for Natural Science and the Stewardship Center of Shelburne Farms.

EPA announced a total of more than $2.3 million in environmental education grants to 165 organizations nationwide this year. These grants benefit the environment while educating students, teachers, and the public. EPA New England is currently accepting proposals for smaller grant requests. For more information on grants, visit EPA's website at www.epa.gov/region01 and click on education.