Governor Tom Wolf announced $459,823 in Environmental Education Grants for 51 projects addressing environmental justice, climate change, and water quality. Eighty-eight percent of grant funds will support projects that engage youth and adults living and/or working within Environmental Justice areas.
Conservation districts receiving grants are:
• Berks County Conservation District: Mobilize student and adult volunteers through hands-on trainings to convert vacant city lots to community gardens and/or implement stormwater Best Management Practices. ($19,615)
• Cambria County Conservation District: Conduct urban rain barrel workshops on how to conserve water and reduce stormwater runoff. ($2,892)
• Columbia County Conservation District: Conduct workshops providing information and equipment essential for proper maintenance, testing, and protection of residential wells and groundwater resources. ($2,997)
• Elk County Conservation District: Climate change education workshops addressing water quality and quantity and host an educational Conservation Carnival at the West Creek Wetland Learning Center. ($2,433)
• Greene County Conservation District: Support student-driven, place-based stream investigations and watershed assessment to connect local water quality issues with watersheds and land use. ($1,400)
• Juniata County Conservation District: Provide an environmental education camp experience involving hands-on rotational stations for 1st-4th graders ($1,530), and provide 9th-12th grade students with formal classroom education in raising American eels for release into local waters. ($2,150)
• McKean County Conservation District: Implement an environmental education series for elementary through high school students, connecting local forests with protecting and improving watersheds. ($3,000)
• Montgomery County Conservation District: Multiple urban agricultural and stormwater best management practices events, integrating climate change, local water issues, and the no-till drill rental program. ($2,945)
• Northumberland County Conservation District: Engage the community in planting native trees/shrubs to help mitigate the impacts of acid mine drainage and provide awareness through educational signage. ($3,000)
• Snyder County Conservation District: Provide an environmental education camp experience involving hands-on rotational stations for 1st-4th graders. ($1,425)
• Warren County Conservation District: Hold two virtual non-point source workshops and a rain barrel painting contest. ($3,000)
• Washington County Conservation District: Hold a stormwater management workshop, distribute rain barrels, and follow up with residents to support the implementation of stormwater management practices. ($3,000)
• Westmoreland County Conservation District (2 projects): Develop a handy pocket guide on 20 typical construction site erosion best management practices for contractors, landowners, and others performing earth disturbance. ($2595); and create a homeowner's guide and provide a virtual education program to homeowners on how to improve and maintain their unpaved driveways and lanes to effectively reduce non-point source pollution and improve water quality. ($3,000)
Statewide:
• Pennsylvania Envirothon: Statewide project that encourages high school students' exploration of environmental issues and provides tools to help them implement community stewardship actions. Students and teachers will interact at the county, state, and national levels. Existing program materials will be analyzed and modified to help expand the engagement of teachers and youth in environmental justice areas. ($80,219)
