Several area schools, colleges and nonprofits were awarded grants that will help them educate the public about important environmental issues.
According to a press release from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, grant recipients plan to use the funding for various initiatives including farm field days, summer camps, exploratory learning activities, professional development and explanatory signage along watersheds. Through these initiatives, students, teachers, farmers and others will learn about a variety of environmental issues ranging from pollination, stormwater management and hydroponics in agriculture, to Marcellus Shale and the Chesapeake Bay.
Locally, the following organizations have received grants through the program, which was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which mandates setting aside 5 percent of the pollution fines and penalties DEP collects annually for environmental education.
In Berks County:
Reading Area Community College - $2,960
Berks County Commissioners, Parks and Recreation - $3,000
Twin Valley School District - $1,553
In Chester County:
Downingtown Area School District - $3,000
The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County - $3,000
Green Valleys Association of Southeastern PA, Inc. - $2,882
Urban and Rural Science Alliance, Inc. - $2,975
Pennsbury Historic Preservation, Inc.- $2,970
Great Valley Nature Center - $2,500
Owen J. Roberts School District - $1,207
In Montgomery County:
Norristown Area School District - $860
Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy - $3,000
Riverbend Environmental Education Center - $3,000
Abington Friends School - $2,908
Montgomery County Community College - $1,315
A total of $309,626 in environmental education grants was awarded to 111 entities in the state this year.
For more information about environmental education, visit www.dep.state.pa.us and click “Environmental Education,” or call 717-772-1828.