DEP Environmental Education grants awarded

HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection announced today it is awarding $642,835 in environmental education grants to 147 schools, universities, non-profit organizations and conservation districts across Pennsylvania.

“These grants help build the foundation for educating communities about their environmental resources and how to protect and sustainably use them,” 

Grant recipients will use the funding for various initiatives, including environmental field trips for students, implementing environmental education curriculum at schools, purchasing new recycling containers to reduce waste, developing workshops on how to build rain barrels and planting community gardens.The grant program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which mandates setting aside five percent of the pollution fines and penalties DEP collects annually for environmental education in Pennsylvania.

For more information on environmental education, visit www.dep.state.pa.us and click “Environmental Education,” or call 717-772-1828.

Among the local winners:

Clarion County
North Clarion County School District, $2,866
Clarion University of Pennsylvania, $3,750
North Central Region Math/Science Education Collaborative, $3,750 

Crawford County
Crawford County Conservation District , $5,283*
Allegheny College, $3,750 

Erie County
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, $3,619
Northwestern School District, $3,749 
Environment Erie, $3,750
Erie City School District, $6,745 *
Erie County Conservation District, $3,750
Millcreek School Foundation, $1,924  

Warren County  
Warren County Conservation District, $3,857