On Friday, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded $205,000 in Environmental Education Grants to 45 projects addressing environmental justice, climate change, and water quality.“Supporting these projects will provide children and adults in urban, rural, and suburban communities with knowledge of the natural world, the importance of a healthy environment, and the value of environmental protection,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.
Grants were awarded to schools, libraries, conservation district offices, and environmental and community organizations. Four projects with a broad or statewide reach received general grants of up to $25,000. Forty-one projects with a local focus received mini-grants of up to $3,000.
In Schuylkill County, the Coal Cracker Kids, a student ran newspaper in Mahanoy City, was awarded $3,000 for the installation of a Street rain garden to help educate their community.
The grants program prioritizes projects that:
- Educate and empower disadvantaged communities to participate meaningfully in environmental and public health issues;
- Educate the public on emissions reduction, energy conservation, renewable energy, and climate adaptation;
- Educate local officials, business owners, homeowners, and the general public about reducing nonpoint source pollution, water quality monitoring, cold water habitats, and other aspects of water quality.
Projects Awarded by County:
Adams
Upper Adams School District: Residential environmental education camp for fifth graders ($3,000)
Allegheny
Allegheny Land Trust: Climate change and water workshops for educators of children from age 2 through second grade ($3,000)
Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators: Water workshops for educators using the Project WET and climate resiliency curricula ($3,000)Armstrong
Armstrong Conservation District: Stormwater management workshop for the public ($2,900)
Berks
Reading Senior High School: Conversion of the unused interior courtyard into a living environmental laboratory for urban students ($3,000)
Butler
Butler Area School District: Riparian buffer planting and trout rearing and release at Thorn Creek ($2,590)
North Hills School District: Field experiences for fourth and sixth graders at Lutherlyn Environmental Education Center ($3,000)Zelienople Area Public Library: STEM program on local environmental issues for children and environmental speakers program for adults ($3,000)
Cambria
Saint Francis University: Energy in Action hands-on learning program in energy conservation and renewable energy technologies ($19,700)
Centre
Pennsylvania State University: Digital outreach training for students on agricultural hazardous waste disposal solutions ($3,000)
Chester
Green Valleys Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (two projects): After-school watershed awareness club for middle schools ($2,700); Water Works watershed education program for fourth graders ($2,900)
Stroud Water Research Center: Brandywine Watershed educational day camp for fourth to sixth graders in Coatesville Youth Initiative ($3,000)
Clearfield
Moshannon Valley School District: Installation of solar-powered greenhouse for hands-on learning in plant science and renewable energy ($3,000)
Columbia
Columbia County Conservation District: Workshops on rain barrels for home and business stormwater management ($2,900)
Crawford
Allegheny College: Creek Connections 2019-2020 water quality monitoring projects ($3,000)
Dauphin
Pennsylvania State University: Multimedia field guide of best practices for improving water quality, highlighting how rural and urban communities can work together ($21,500)
Dauphin County Conservation District: Rain barrel stormwater management workshops for homeowners ($3,000)
Delaware
Villanova University: Citizen science program on air pollution for middle and high school students in urban schools ($24,530)
Erie
Asbury Woods: Equipment for students studying climate, watersheds, and other environmental subjects ($2,900)
Gannon University: Erie Earth Day Festival 2020, providing free public education on water and air quality issues in the region ($2,955)
Wattsburg Area School District: Hands-on learning experiences in water quality testing in the French Creek Watershed ($3,000)
Lackawanna
Valley View School District: Butterfly pollinator garden project as part of hands-on environmental science ($2,990)
Lebanon
Lebanon Community Library: STEM in Action after-school environmental programs for students in disadvantaged communities ($3,000)
Luzerne
Lake-Noxen Elementary School: Water and soil monitoring project showing impacts of climate, pollution, and weather ($2,950)
Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18: Aquaponic STEM experiences for students ($3,000)
Wilkes University: Earth science education, including hydrology, using 3-D augmented reality ($2,900)
Lycoming
Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association: STEM-based programs for families on a paddlewheel riverboat on the West Branch Susquehanna River ($3,000)
McKean
McKean County Conservation District: Programs on watersheds, planting trees, and trout for elementary to high school students ($3,000)
Pennsylvania State University: Youth hands-on learning about the Pennsylvania Wilds using themes from the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for environment and STEM ($3,000)
Mercer
Mercer County Conservation District: In-school programs and public outreach on backyard water conservation ($3,000)
Montgomery
Pottstown School District: Pottstown Powered by Nature program teaching fourth to sixth graders scientific inquiry in environmental issues ($3,000)
Northampton
Nazareth Area School District: Teacher professional development for watershed education for AP environmental science classes ($2,765)
Northumberland
Northumberland County Conservation District (three projects): Sand and gravel simulator for groundwater training ($1,475); rain barrel construction workshop ($735); field trip for school students focused on coal mining history and water quality ($1,340)
Philadelphia
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc.: Educational modules on the science and restoration of freshwater mussels for clean water ($24,700)
Philadelphia Solar Energy Association: Solar energy education program in which middle school students from disadvantaged communities design, build, and race solar-powered cars ($3,000)
Pike
Pike County Conservation District: Podcast series on water quality best management practices for homeowners in priority watersheds ($3,000)
Schuylkill
Coal Cracker Kids: Street rain garden installation to help educate community ($3,000)
Snyder
Snyder County Conservation District: Materials for Mid-West Fifth Grade Enviro Skills Competition ($2,800)
Tioga
Wellsboro Area School District: Equipment for students to participate in Trout in the Classroom and conduct research on environmental factors affecting trout health ($1,770)
Westmoreland
Saint Vincent College (two projects): Early childhood nature educator workshop series ($3,000); maple sugar tapping and climate change environmental education for students and the public ($3,000)
Westmoreland Conservation District: Development of one-acre pollinator garden to educate the public on the importance of pollinator habitat and how to maintain it ($3,000)