United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 5
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
905-K-94-001
1994
f/EPA
THE EC's OF
ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION
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This booklet is designed to serve as a resource to both formal anc
nonformal environmental educators, as well as others (students
community leaders, parents) interested in the field of environmenta
education. It contains lists of programs, resources, contacts, anc
information related to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA
environmental education program. In addition, this booklet contains
environmental education information specific to EPA Region 5 and the
States in this region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio
Wisconsin). At the end of this booklet, you will find a list of all the
programs described within, as well as addresses and phone numbers
of people who can be contacted for additional information.
Jackson Boulevard i o^
IL 60604-3590 '
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Environmental Education -
Where Did It Come From?
Where Is It Heading?
While environmental education as a distinct field did not emerge until the late 1960's,
it traces its roots back to the turn of the century, to three educational movements,
whose influence is still felt today. These are nature study, conservation education,
and outdoor education. Their impact on the field can be seen in the outdoor classrooms,
nature trails, and wilderness experiences that are often components of current
environmental education curricula. Over the past two decades, however, this limited
description of environmental education has expanded and now includes much more
than outdoor education and nature study.
John J. Kirk, in The Quantum Theory of Environmental Education, says: "As
the environmental problems increased in significance and number, an
educational phenomenon began to take place. These external pressures in
our society forced the philosophical components of outdoor education and
conservation education on a collision course, and in the late 1960's there
was a mixing and blending which resulted in a great explosion or quantum
jump, which produced a new product, a new philosophy, a new approach:
environmental education."
This new product, environmental education, places a special emphasis on
the social dimensions of environmental problems. Its focus is on creating a citizenry
that possess the awareness, attitudes, knowledge, skills and motivation needed to
address these problems.
International conferences on environmental education during the 1970's have
helped build and define the emerging field of environmental education. A consensus
has begun to emerge about what constitutes environmental education and about the
field's goals and guiding principles. In general, these goals and guiding principles
indicate that environmental education should increase awareness and knowledge about
environmental issues as well as provide the skills necessary to make informed decisions
and the motivation to take responsible action.
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National Environmental Education Act
In 1990, Congress passed the National Environmental Education Act. Under the
leadership of EPA, the Act directs the Federal Government to play a strong role in increasing
the public's environmental literacy by focusing on the education of youth and the training
of individuals for environmental careers. The Act encourages partnerships and builds upon
long-standing environmental education efforts among Federal agencies, local educational
institutions, State agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. Some of the
broad provisions of the Act include:
O Establishing an Environmental Education Division (EED) within EPA;
O Creating an Environmental Education and Training Program;
O Awarding environmental education grants;
O Providing for environmental internships;
O Initiating a national environmental education recognition program;
O Forming communication networks between EED and environmental educators
nationwide; and,
O Establishing a National Environmental Education and Training Foundation.
The provisions of the Act are carried out by the Environmental Education Division
located at EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. along with EPA's 10 regional offices. This
booklet first describes EPA's national program and then focuses on environmental education
programs in EPA Region 5.
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Environmental Education Division
The primary mission of the Environmental Education Division is to advance and
support national and international environmental education efforts, to develop an
environmentally conscious public, and to inspire in all individuals a sense of personal
responsibility for the care of the environment. The role of EED is to:
O Provide leadership in environmental education within the
Federal Government;
c.) Help improve communication among all involved in environmental
education;
O Help identify gaps in environmental education resources; and,
O Be an advocate for environmental education efforts nationally and
internationally.
In order to carry out EPA's environmental education program, EED must
collaborate with a large and varied audience. EPA recognizes that it has joined a
growing field with many documented successes. EPA's goal is to build upon these
successes by collaborating with formal educators (K-12, post-secondary); nonformal
educators (naturalists, museum curators, etc.); students of all ages; colleges and
universities; other Federal, State, and local agencies; nonprofit organizations; the
private sector; and, the media. EPA is establishing partnerships with these different
audiences to further environmental education.
Several programs and efforts at the national level enable EPA to become
partners with the organizations above for the advancement of environmental education.
Following is a summary of these efforts.
Students monitor water quality
in Southern Illinois University's
Rivers Project.
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Three-Tiered Communication Network
The Environmental Education Division has placed a high priority on expanding
communication networks and fostering the development of partnerships. To that end,
several formal communication and advisory networks have been established:
The EPA Environmental Education Advisory Board is an internal
EPA network that includes representatives from headquarters and
regional offices, as well as from research laboratories. It advises
EED on environmental education programming and serves as a
conduit for internal agency communication.
National Environmental Education and Training Foundation
In addition to EED and the communication network, the National Environmental Education
Act establishes a National Environmental Education and Training Foundation that
facilitates and expands the use of public and private resources to advance environmental
education and training, as well as to foster open and effective partnerships between all
elements of the private sector and all levels of Government.
The Foundation is a charitable and nonprofit organization. In addition to facilitating
cooperation among individuals and groups from the public and private sectors, the
Foundation also has authority to make grants. Organizations interested in applying should
call or write the Foundation and ask for a Statement of Priorities and Programs, which
includes detailed instructions for making a grant application. (Contact information is listed
at the end of this booklet.)
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GRANTS
EPA administers two grant programs
under the National Environmental Education Act:
the Environmental Education and Training Program,
and the Environmental Education Grants Program.
Environmental Education and Training Program
The National Environmental Education Act authorizes EPA to make a grant to an academic
institution, or consortium of institutions, to establish a national program that will train
educational professionals in the development and delivery of environmental education
programs.
In 1991, more than 80 academic institutions and non-profit organizations
competed for this first-time grant which totals one-fifth of the annual EED budget.
Although the actual grant award is made annually, EPA has operated the program
under a three year budget period. EPA expects to continue soliciting proposals and
funding this program on a three year basis. The target date for the next solicitation
notice is the summer of 1994 with an award date in the spring of 1995. All
announcements about this program will appear in the Federal Register.
In 1992, EPA awarded a $1.6 million grant to the University of Michigan under
this program. In 1993, EPA awarded $1.8 million to the same institution. With the grant,
the university established the National Consortium for Environmental Education
and Training (NCEET), a group of academic institutions, corporations, and nonprofit
organizations. The NCEET program targets in-service teachers (K-12), as well as nonformal
educators, and includes curriculum development and evaluation, teacher training, and
information dissemination. Two of the principal consortium programs that educators
can use as resources are:
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Environmental Education Grants Program
Through its national and regional offices, EPA also manages a grants program that funds
many innovative programs and projects developed by schools, colleges and universities,
State/local/tribal education agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Although some projects
are national in scope, the majority respond to regional, State, and local needs.
In 1992, the first year of the program, EPA's call for proposals resulted in over
3,000 applicants who requested more than $100 million in funds. That year, EPA awarded
its congressional appropriation of $2.5 million in grants ranging from less than $5,000 to
$250,000. In 1993, EPA awarded its congressional appropriation of $2.7 million, an increase
from the previous year. In 1994, EPA awarded $3 million.
Each year, EED issues a call for new grant applications. The announcement is
printed in the Federal Register and is sent out to EED's mailing list. Grant applications in
excess of $25,000 and up to $250,000 compete at the national level, while grant applications
National Grant Awarded In EPfl Region 5
In 1992, EPA Headquarters awarded the Chicago Academy of Sciences $117,825 to fund the Ecological
Citizenship Program (Eco-Cit), a model program designed to meet the specific needs of urban environmental
education. Eco-Cit, a hands-on environmental education
outreach program created to address the need for
environmental teaching in inner-city schools, is geared
toward K-8 inner-city teachers and their students. In
1992, the program was successfully conducted by the
Academy in four inner-city Chicago schools, which serve
a mostly African-American and Hispanic population.
The 1992 Eco-Cit program began with an
environmental poster contest. Students from the four
schools competed, and 1,000 copies of the winning
poster were made and distributed to teachers, principals,
and students. As the year progressed, students and
teachers did a variety of projects, including school and
community cleanups and beautification, classroom
lessons and environmental activities, parent workshops,
Chicago elementary students paint over dumpster
graffiti in Eco-Cit community clean-up project.
and an Eco-Fair. The Eco-Fair was the culminating event
of Eco-Cit, and students from the four schools met for a
day-long celebration, with their parents and teachers, to
display their classroom Eco-Fair projects.
Eco-Cit is an ongoing program, and new schools are targeted for the future. Meanwhile, the Chicago
Academy of Sciences plans to help 1992 Eco-Cit participants continue developing the links between parents,
schools, and communities that were formed as a result of this inner-city environmental education program.
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for $25,000 or less compete at the regional level (see page 11 for more information). Of the
money available in the Regional offices, about half is slated for grassroot programs of
$5,000 or less. Proposals requesting $5,000 or less have the greatest chance of being
funded due to a requirement to fund grassroot programs in the National Environmental
Education Act.
The grants, usually awarded in the spring, fund a wide variety of programs. Projects
are generally chosen for their innovation and ability to be replicated in other communities
and regions. The box on page six highlights a national grant recipient awarded by EPA
Headquarters in the Region 5 area.
Grant funding is often an integral part of environmental education programs. In
order to help educators obtain grant funding for environmental education programs, EPA
entered into a cooperative agreement with the North American Association of Environmental
Education (NAAEE) to prepare a booklet entitled Grant Funding for Your Environmental
Education Program: Strategies and Options. This booklet offers environmental educators
basic information on identifying and researching funding sources, as well as preparing
competitive proposals. For more information, contact: NAAEE, Publications and
Membership Office, P.O. Box 400, Troy, OH, 45373.
EP0 GRUNT DOLUfRS REQUESTED NATIONALLY AND IN REGION 5
National
Regional
Funds requested
Funds available for granting by Congressional appropriation
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Youth Programs
EPA has a long-standing commitment to educate youth about the importance of
environmental protection. Among the key youth environmental education activities are:
O Students Watching Over Our Planet Earth
is a laboratory educational program offered through a
partnership between EPA and the U.S. Department of
Energy. It teaches students about science through
hands-on environmental research.
O TRAIL BOSS is a volunteer conservation
skills program developed by EPA and the U.S.
Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Defense. It
teaches volunteer leaders the specialized skills needed
for training and leading volunteer crews involved in
conservation projects.
O EPA is also developing partnerships
with established youth programs such as the Boy
Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of the United
States of America, and the National 4-H Council.
Award Programs
EPA Administrator Carol Browner presents the
Theodore Roosevelt award to Howard H. Michaud
of West Lafayette. Indiana, for his 70 years of
contributions to environmental education.
Scouts from Troup 4, Ann Arbor,
Michigan participate in a beach
sweep program.
EPA honors dedication to the environment by students,
environmentalists and educators through two award programs:
O EED has established the biennial National
Environmental Education Awards to recognize individuals for
their outstanding contributions to environmental education. The
awards, which commemorate Theodore Roosevelt, Henry David
Thoreau, Rachael Carson, and Gifford Pinchot, are given in four
categories: teaching; literature; print, film, or broadcast media;
and, forestry and natural resources management. The first awards
were given in May 1993.
O The President's Environmental Youth Awards
recognizes outstanding commitment to the environment by the
Nation's youth. Since 1971, young people across the Nation have
competed annually in this program by submitting individual or
group projects that focus on environmental protection. Each year,
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EPA Regions send out applications to public and private schools. (All public and private
schools in the 6-State Region 5 area receive applications.) To be eligible to compete, a
student or group of students, sponsored by an adult, must submit to EPA evidence of a
completed project, as defined in the application. Applications must be postmarked each
year by July 31. National award winners are selected by each EPA regional office and are
invited to participate in an awards ceremony in Washington, DC.
Internships
EPA's Environmental Education Division participates in various internship programs
to help place college interns in various EPA program offices involved in environmental
protection. The internships aim to encourage college students to pursue environmental
careers. EPA gains a great deal from the experiences and knowledge that interns
bring to the job.
One particular program that EED administers is the National Network for
Environmental Management Studies. The program aims to obtain high-quality studies
on EPA's priority environmental and program management issues by recruiting students
from a network of universities. EPA headquarters and regional offices send lists of
their priority issues to universities with programs in environmental policy, resource
management, public administration, and related fields. Students from these universities
submit a one-page proposal to the EPA sponsoring office. Once study details have
been agreed upon, the sponsoring office provides the selected student with either a
fellowship or a paid internship in exchange for a final study or report.
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Pollution Prevention Environmental Education Project
In 1990, EPA formed a national Pollution Prevention Environmental Education Task
Force consisting of EPA employees who are advised by environmental education
experts from outside EPA. The task force surveyed existing national environmental
education curriculum for materials with a pollution prevention focus. Once the task
force collected a clearinghouse of materials, it identified gaps and merged curriculum
resources. The task force plans to compile teaching units that focus on the integration
of pollution prevention into environmental education. Materials will be geared toward
K-12 teachers and students.
International Partnerships
EPA recognizes that the commitment to environmental protection transcends national
boundaries. The United States does not have a monopoly on effective ways to educate
the public about environmental issues and problems. Therefore, protecting human
health and the environment in the United States requires the forging of international
partnerships. For example:
O In collaboration with EPA's Office of International Activities, EPA's
Environmental Education Division developed a Trilateral Memorandum of
Understanding on Environmental Education with Canada and Mexico to promote
environmental education in North America.
O EPA is supporting several public-private initiatives in various regions of the
world, including the establishment of the Caribbean Environment and Development
Institute (Puerto Rico, 1992), the Regional Environmental Center for Central and
Eastern Europe (Budapest, Hungary, 1990), and the Environmental Education and
Information Center (Kiev, Ukraine, 1992).
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EPfl REGION 5
EPA Region 5 is headquartered in Chicago. Within EPA Region 5, the environmental
education program is coordinated through the Office of Public Affairs, with the help of an
environmental education workgroup consisting of representatives of EPA programs such
as Air and Radiation, Water, Waste Management, Regional Counsel, Planning and
Management, the Environmental Sciences, as well as EPA's Great Lakes National Program
Office. The workgroup serves as the central coordinating body in the region for
environmental education.
Environmental education is relatively new to Region 5 — the program began in
1990 with the passage of the National Environmental Education Act. Since the establishment
of EPA in 1970, Region 5 has provided environmental information to the public through
hotlines, a speakers' bureau, publications, and other resources. The passage of the Act,
however, has enabled EPA's Regional office to work more closely with students and the
educational community through grants, teacher workshops, internship programs, and
environmental education awards. In addition to carrying out national programs administered
by the Environmental Education Division at EPA Headquarters, Region 5 has its own unique
educational programs that involve a variety of audiences.
Region 5 Grants Program
In 1992, the first year of EPA's environmental education grants program, Region 5 received
315 pre-applications requesting more than $4.1 million in funds. That year, Region 5 funded
22 proposals with the $140,000 it had available. In 1993, each EPA Region was authorized
to grant $170,000 in environmental education funds. Region 5 received 240 pre-
applications requesting more than $2.9 million. Twenty-three proposals were funded. In
1994, Region 5 received 170 pre-applications and funded 23 grants with the $180,000 it
had available.
Through the grants program, Region 5 has awarded money to tribal and local
agencies, colleges, universities, State education and environmental agencies, schools,
and nonprofit organizations in all six States in the Region to carry out unique environmental
education programs with wide application.
Because the program is competitive, grant applications go through a rigorous
review process. They are first screened and rated by an environmental education
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workgroup consisting of EPA employees with varied environmental and educational
expertise. Proposals that receive high scores in the first tier are sent out for evaluation to
environmental education professionals external to EPA. About 50% of the total funds allotted
annually to Region 5 are awarded for grants of $5,000 or less, as required by law. In the
first three years of the grants program, 55 of the 68 grants EPA Region 5 funded were for
$5,000, or less.
Funded Grant Projects in Region 5
Lead
education pes«cides
Breakdown by subject-area of
grant projects awarded in 1993
During 1992 and 1993, the first two years of EPA's grants program, EPA Region 5 awarded
a total of $310,000 to fund 45 programs in its 6-State area. These awards ranged from
less than $1,000 to $25,000, and covered a wide variety of topics. Examples of 1992 and
1993 grant winners include:
O Grand Cal Task Force (Indiana). In 1993, EPA awarded $5,000 to the Grand
Cal Task Force, to broaden a program aimed at educating students in at least 30 secondary
schools in Northwest Indiana. Members of the Grand Cal Task Force will travel to schools
in Northwest Indiana with a slide show which addresses the problems of the Grand Calumet
River. This program seeks to educate students and teachers about the potential for restoring
and protecting this ecosystem through pollution prevention.
O Washtenaw County (Michigan). EPA awarded $20,000 to Washtenaw County
in 1992 to fund an "Environmental Equity Internship Program." This award was used to
support a 6-week environmental internship program for eight high school minority students
from the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor areas. In summer 1993, students were placed as paid
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interns in five Washtenaw County government environmental offices. Student activities
included soil sampling, mapping tributaries, well permitting, and working with programs
such as Adopt-a-Waterway. After the internship program, students presented their
experiences at schools, churches, and other organizations in their communities.
O Gaia Theater (Illinois). In 1992,
EPA awarded $4,875 to Gaia Theater in
Chicago to develop "The Dr. Energy Show,"
which used a satirical medicine show-
vaudeville format to address the problems
of energy waste, global warming, and the
greenhouse effect. Juggling, acrobatics,
vaudeville "schtick," and rap music were all
used to make the energy conservation
message appealing to 4th through 8th grade
audiences. EPA funds were used to
research, write, rehearse, and perform the
show for 3,500 students at 10 low-income
schools in the Chicago area. A packet of
learning activities was also created and
distributed to teachers at the schools. Gaia
still performs the show today.
Gaia Theater presents "The Dr. Energy Show.'
O Northwoods Audubon Center (Minnesota). In 1992, EPA awarded $20,000
to the Northwoods Audubon Center in Sandstone. The funds were used to support a pilot
environmental education program that integrated environmental education into the
Wilderness Inquiry Program for youth with disabilities. Funds were also used to train staff
and develop a staging area and curriculum that served youth with disabilities such as
multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, blindness, epilepsy, and deafness. This program worked
to allow youth with disabilities to make the most of their environmental, vocational,
educational, and leadership potential.
O Northeast Ohio Greens (Ohio). In 1992, EPA awarded $2,500 to Northeast
Ohio Greens in Cleveland, to teach people in low-income areas how to raise and preserve
nutritious food without the use of pesticides. Thirty people, from age 16 to 60, took part in
the "Growing Together Organically" project, which used vacant lots and low-income housing
to establish gardens and compost areas. In 1993, EPA awarded a second grant of $4,500
for the continuation of the project, which will broaden its focus to include elementary
students in low-income areas, homeless women and children, and runaway adolescents.
O University of Wisconsin — Stevens Point, Native American Center
(Wisconsin). In 1992, EPA awarded $5,000 to this grantee for the "Environmental Awareness
Summer Youth Practicum." American Indian students from many tribes across the United
States participated in this 2-week, pre-college program about resource management and
Native American culture.
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Educational Resources
EPA Region 5 makes available to the public a wide array of environmental education
publications and materials, including curriculum materials, posters, coloring books, and
films. Materials are geared primarily to students in grades K-12, and are used by educators
in both formal and nonformal settings. Educators or students interested in receiving
publications or learning more about what is available can contact EPA at 1-800-621-8431
between 9 am and 4:30 pm CST. Region 5 is in the process of translating a few of the
more popular educational materials into Spanish.
Partnerships With Post-secondary Institutions
College student works in EPA's Central Regional
Laboratory during EPA's Academic Relations
1993 internship program.
Both nationally and regionally, the EPA has an ever-increasing need for well-trained,
qualified scientists, engineers, and other environmental specialists to meet the
technological demands of the future. To assure a pool of highly
trained personnel for environmental research and
development, EPA is working closely with post-secondary
institutions. An innovative program that allows EPA to form
partnerships with a variety of post-secondary institutions is
highlighted below.
The Academic Relations Program was
established in 1992 to help meet the requirements of EPA's
research, environmental, and scientific needs. EPA staff work
with selected colleges and universities in the 6-State Region
on mutually beneficial programs. EPA's effort focuses on
schools with significant minority populations that have a
reputation for producing high-quality students, especially in
science and engineering. EPA's role is to provide educational
support and technical assistance to students, career and job-
fair opportunities, and an agency communication network. It
aims to enhance the education and training of students by
formalizing and strengthening ties between schools and EPA.
In the summer of 1993, EPA worked with several students
from partnering colleges and universities in a summer
internship program.
Teacher Education
In Region 5, the primary focus of teacher education workshops has been on the Great
Lakes, since all of the Region's 6 States adjoin this important ecosystem. Through interactive
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Educators from Northwest Indiana participate
in ERA's first Great Lakes teacher workshop.
techniques-such as role playing, unit development, experiments, and
focus groups- teachers learn how to integrate Great Lakes issues
into their classrooms. They also receive instruction on the use of EPA's
Great Minds? Great Lakes! curriculum resource which is distributed
throughout EPA Region 5.
Although the majority of teacher workshops deal with Great
Lakes issues, Region 5 is working to broaden its teacher education
programs to include other high-priority environmental issues, such
as air quality. EPA sponsored an air quality teacher education
workshop for teachers in the Midwest, coordinated and given by the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
EPA hopes to increase the number of teacher workshops
by making teacher education and training a priority in its small grants
program. In Region 5, EPA can also serve as a resource for making
teachers aware of environmental education workshops sponsored
by state and community organizations in the 6-State area.
Environmental Outreach
EPA Region 5 has a variety of environmental outreach programs geared toward students,
teachers, industry, environmental organizations, and the general public. These include:
O Conferences and Exhibits. Through the year, EPA participates in many
conferences, exhibits, and concurrent sessions, which allow EPA to network with the
environmental education community.
O Speakers' Bureau. Through the Office of Public Affairs, EPA Region 5
coordinates its volunteer speakers. More than 200 EPA employees from all Divisions offer
their expertise as speakers for schools, civic groups, industries, and environmental
organizations. Since Region 5 headquarters is in Chicago, most speaking engagements
are in Illinois, although speakers occasionally present in other regional States.
O Hotline. Through the Office of Public Affairs, EPA Region 5 offers a general-
information hotline for the 6-State region. The toll-free hotline is available to anyone who
would like to get information on environmental subjects. In addition, teachers or
organizations can call the hotline for educational materials to be used with students,
preK-12.
O Partnerships. EPA's environmental education program is made stronger
through partnerships with other Federal, State, and local organizations and agencies. For
example, EPA assists the Teachers' Academy for Teaching Math and Science with its
education and outreach program for the Chicago public schools by sending scientists
and engineers into the classroom to teach and promote the sciences through hands-on
education. Other partnerships aim to reach a wide audience with innovative programs.
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EPA Program Highlights
Although the Office of Public Affairs is primarily responsible for coordinating environmental
education in Region 5, the help of other EPA Divisions and Offices is essential to successful
environmental education. Through representation on the environmental education
workgroup, EPA Divisions of Air and Radiation, Water, Waste Management, Planning and
Management, Environmental Sciences and Regional Counsel as well as the Great Lakes
National Program Office provide their own unique perspectives and programs on
environmental education. Highlights include:
O Air and Radiation Division. The Division has filmed high school students
in two public service announcements concerning the health effects of second-hand smoke.
Announcements are geared toward adolescents. In addition, the Division has funded two
grants on indoor air pollution. Both grants, one in Michigan and one in Minnesota, have a
Native American focus.
O Waste Management Division. Personnel from the Division visit schools to
educate students about waste issues such as recycling, solid waste management, and
pollution prevention. Occasionally, EPA's mascot, the Garbage Gremlin, makes an
appearance at these presentations.
O Water Division. The Wetlands and Watersheds Section of the Division has
participated in various outreach-education activities for the public, including classroom
presentations (K-12 and college), Earth Day activities, displays at conferences and fairs,
and outdoor education programs offered by local community park districts. In addition,
the Wetlands Program hopes to establish public-private partnerships to promote and
increase sponsorship of wetlands activities at the State and local level.
O Planning and Management Division. The Division produced a poster called
Ecosystems of the Midwest for grades 6-12. It describes the biodiversity of ecosystems
and species in the Midwest, the decline of the diversity over the past 200 years, and
things that individuals or groups can do to help restore and conserve habitats. The poster
also has information about obtaining materials on environmental education. In addition,
the Division is developing materials to accompany the poster, including a teacher's guide.
O Environmental Sciences Division. The Asbestos Control Section of this
Division is developing a lesson plan for junior high school teachers to be used in teaching
about the health hazards associated with lead exposure. Experts in curriculum development
will design the format and develop the substance of the plan, with EPA providing the
necessary technical assistance. The lesson plan should be ready for the 1994-95 school
year.
O Special Emphasis Programs. Region 5 has a number of special emphasis
programs coordinated by various subcommittees representing such populations as African-
Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and women. Subcommittees often "adopt" local schools.
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For example, the Hispanic Subcommittee annually awards college scholarships to four
students from Clemente High School in Chicago. Another environmental education program
sponsored through the special emphasis program is Bring Your Daughter to Work Day.
By encouraging EPA employees to bring their daughters to work for a day, this program
affords young women the opportunity to observe first-hand the many different career
opportunities available for women in the sciences.
Great Lakes Environmental Education
In Region 5, the Great Lakes often serve as a
focus of State and regional environmental
education efforts. As the largest source of
freshwater in the United States, this unique
natural resource allows students, educators, and
communities in Region 5 to engage in a variety
of water-related environmental activities. In
addition, the location of the Great Lakes on the
U.S.-Canadian border fosters the development
of environmental education partnerships between
the two countries.
Most of EPA's Great Lakes educational
activities are carried out by the Great Lakes
National Program Office, with headquarters in
Chicago, and the Region 5 Office of Public
Affairs. The cornerstone of EPA's Great Lakes
environmental education activities is the EPA Research Vessel Lake Guardian. Since 1991,
the Lake Guard/an has been conducting city tours throughout the Great Lakes. In 1992,
school children from 14 cities visited the Lake Guardian
and saw first-hand how this vessel monitors water quality
in the Great Lakes. Students visiting the ship receive a
copy of EPA's curriculum resource Great Minds? Great
Lakes!, get to meet the ship's captain, and have a
chance to talk to marine biologists about EPA's
research.
Other Great Lakes environmenta!
education activities include workshops that introduce
teachers to EPA's Great Lakes curriculum resource,
presentations at teacher conferences, and distribution
of EPA's Great Lakes materials.
Captain Ingram explains the ship's operations
to a qroup of students.
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Environmental Education in the 6-State Region
EPA is just one of the many organizations offering programs in environmental education.
At the State level, many innovative and exciting programs exist that deal with a variety of
environmental issues and topics. States in the Region 5 area have been conducting
environmental education programs for many years. As a result, some States in Region 5
have environmental education legislation, and many school systems in the six States
teach an environmental curriculum to students of all ages.
Throughout the 6-State region, colleges and universities, community organizations,
nonprofit groups, public and private schools, tribal councils, museums, State and local
Government agencies, businesses, and private citizens are all taking the initiative in dealing
with environmental problems and searching for solutions. EPA is charged with furthering
environmental education efforts in the Federal government; however, the agency is also
interested in supporting State and local projects whenever possible. EPA recognizes that
the future of environmental education lies in these State and community grassroots efforts.
To learn more about environmental education programs and contacts at the State
level, contact EPA Region 5's Environmental Education Coordinator at the address
and telephone number listed at the back of this booklet.
Regional Administrator Valdas V. Adamkus (left) presents grant money to
Amundsen High School, Chicago, for environmental education activities.
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NATIONAL PROGRAMS
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -
Headquarters
Environmental Education Division
401 M Street, S.W. (1707)
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 260-4965
National Environmental Education and
Training Foundation
915 Fifteenth Street, N.W.
Suite 200
Washington.D.C. 20005
(202) 628-8200
National Consortium for Environmental Education
and Training
University of Michigan
School of Natural Resources and Environment
Dana Building - 430 East University
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1115
(313)998-6726
EPA Environmental Education Grants Program
National Grants ($25,001 - $250,000)
EPA Environmental Education Division (1707)
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202)260-8619
Regional Grants (up to $25,000)
Environmental Education Coordinator
EPA Region 5 (P-19J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
(312)353-3209
Chicago Academy of Sciences
Ecological Citizenship Program
2001 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL60614
(312)549-0606
EPA National Youth Programs
EPA Environmental Education Division (1707)
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 260-8749
EPA National Awards Programs
President's Environmental Youth Awards
EPA Region 5 (P-19J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
(312)886-7935
National Environmental Education Awards
EPA Environmenal Division (1707)
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 260-4965
Internships
National Network for Environmental Management Studies
EPA Environmental Education Division (1707)
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 260-5960
See also Academic Relations Program on page 20
Environmental Software Programs
EPA Region 5 (S-14J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Pollution Prevention Environmental Education Project
Environmental Education Coordinator
EPA Region 5
See reference in left column
International Projects
EPA Environmental Education Division (1707)
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 260-4965
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REGIONAL CONTACTS
Regional Grants Program
For information on future grants programs or past projects,
contact Region 5's Environmental Education Coordinator
EPA Region 5 (P-19J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
(312)353-3209
Curriculum Resources
EPA Region 5 Toil-Free Hotline
77 West Jackson Boulevard (P-19J)
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
1-800-621-8431
Post-Secondary Programs
Academic Relations Program
EPA Region 5 (S-14J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Teacher Education Programs
Environmental Education Coordinator
See reference above
Environmental Outreach
Conferences and Exhibits
Environmental Education Coordinator
See reference above
Speakers' Bureau
EPA Region 5, (P-19J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
(312)886-7935
Science Fair Judges
See previous reference
Region 5 Toll-Free Hotline
1-800-621-8431
Partnerships
Environmental Education Coordinator
See previous reference
Division Highlights
EPA Region 5
Environmental Education Workgroup
(contact through Environmental Education
Coordinator)
Great Lakes Environmental Education
Lake Guardian Tours
EPA Region 5 (P-19J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
(312)886-7478
Teacher Education and other
Great Lakes Education efforts
Environmental Education Coordinator
State Environmental Education
Environmental Education Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5, library (PL-12J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
U S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1994-548-780
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"1""
If your plan is /or i year,
plant rice;
if your plan is /or 10 years,
plant trees;
if your plan is /or 100 years,
educate children
Confucius
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United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5
Office of Public Affairs
Margaret McCue, Director
Suzanne Saric, Environmental Education Coordinator, Editor
Amy Malkus, Writer
Birute A. Bulota, Designer
Belinda Y. Robinson, Illustrator
printed on recycled paper
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