United States Environmental Protection Agency Communications, Education, And Public Affairs .(1707) . EPA171-F-96-001 1996 The President's Environmental Youth Awards National Winners ------- The President's Environmental Youth Awards Young people in all fifty states and the U.S. territories are invited to participate in the President's Environmental Youth Awards Program, which offers them, individually and collectively, an opportunity to become an environ- mental force within their community. The President's Environmental Youth Awards Program encourages individuals, school classes, schools, summer camps, public interest groups, and youth organizations to promote local environmental awareness and to channel this awareness into positive community involvement. "Preserving the environment is at the core of everything we have to do in our own country...As we renew our environment, we renew our national community." President Bill Clinton Carol M. Browner EPA Administrator "Environmental protection begins with environmental education. Only by learning how we relate to our environment can we contribute to making and keeping the world around us a safer, cleaner place to live". ------- Project Examples On the island of Maui, is an ancient royal Hawaiian fishpond called Kanaha Pond that had become overgrown and was being used as a dump. Six members of Girl Scout Cadette Troop 460 cut overgrown bushes and trees, removed tons of trash, pulled weeds and reintroduced native grasses and plants. Native waterfowl including the rare Hawaiian Stilt have returned to Kanaha Pond. In Colorado, Hygiene Elementary School project SOS-Save our Species-was a year-long study of wildlife and global habitats of endan- gered species. They designed and published an endangered species calendar, a 50-page coloring book, a conservation newspaper, and ten global habitat books. Every hallway was converted into a "hallway habitat" such as an Asian jungle or coral reef. Over 1,000 people attended their community environmental festival. . Future Fanners of America (FFA) members of Morgan County High School in Georgia started an environmental awareness program "Recycle Soon It's Vital to Our'planet (RSVP).'" They built and continue to operate the first county-wide recycling center-reducing the amount of trash in the landfill by 300,000 pounds. They used the proceeds to construct and maintain an Outdoor Environmen- tal Study Area and Classroom. This area consists of a three-acre "wildlife habitat" centered around a once nonexistent, one-acre pond. They drafted a state resolution, House Bill No. 168, that was passed by the State Legislature to encourage all citizens in Georgia to recycle and to respect the environ- ment. Boy Scout Troop 152 of Fayetteville, New York worked to revive a stream erosion abatement project at the Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery. On week-ends they camped out on the grounds of the hatchery and worked in shifts to construct a dam using natural log materials. The dam provides food, shelter and living space for the trout that inhabit the stream. Kendal Maalea tackles some of the tangled brush around Kanaha Pond How The Program Works The program has two components: the regional certificate program and the national awards competition. Regional certificates are awarded by the Regional Offices of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The national award winners are selected by the Regional Offices and their recognition program is adminis- tered by EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Regional Certificate Program The sponsor must complete the attached application and mail it to the appropriate EPA Regional Office (see listing on back of brochure). The regional certificate program is conducted year-round; therefore, applications for the regional program can be submitted at any time. If a project is completed in the regional component of the program, all participants will receive certificates signed by the President of the United States, honoring them for their efforts in environmental protection National Awards Competition One outstanding project from each of the ten EPA Regions is selected for national recognition. National individual project winners, or one representative from a national award-winning group project, along with one project sponsor, will be honored by EPA Headquarters, Washing- ton, D.C. Application Procedures Although creativity is encouraged, applica- tions must conform to the following guidelines: The sponsor(s) MUST sign and date the application. The application must summarize the project in no less than three and no more than five 8-1 /2 by 11 inch pages, not including supporting materi- als. These supporting materials may include mounted photographs, news clippings, and other supplemental items such as full texts of scientific papers. Typed (doubled spaced) applications are encouraged. Applicants should type or write only on one side of each sheet. \ Applicants are strongly urged to follow the specific criteria that the Regional Awards Panel will use to evaluate applications. (See Judging Criteria). Because judges cannot visit projects, students are encouraged to include photographs, newspaper articles, and other supporting materials with their applications. This will help the judging panel to gain a more comprehensive view of a project. (Continued on back page) 55 \ LU CD ------- On a separate sheet of ^aper, attached to the 3-5 page application, list the group name (if appli- cable), and the names of individuals and ad- dresses of all project participants and sponsors. Also list the project name if it has one. The sponsor's home and work telephone numbers and signature must appear on this sheet. Additional participants of winning projects with EPA Administrator Browner and rice President Core How To Apply Eligibility To be eligible, a young person, or a group of young persons, must have completed an environ- mental project while in grades kindergarten through 12, and the project must be sponsored by at least one adult representative of their school, camp, youth group, or public interest group. Application Deadline To participate in the annual national awards competition, projects must be completed by July 31 of the award year; applications must be mailed to the appropriate Regional Office; and applica- tions must be postmarked by July 31 or earlier of the same award year. Do not mail the application to EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Judging Criteria Each Regional Awards Panel will judge projects on: The environmental need for the project. The environmental appropriateness of the project. The accomplishment of goals. The long-term environmental benefits derived from the project. The positive environmental impact on the local community and society. The extent to which the project's design, . coordination, and implementation was due to the; young person's or persons' initiative. The positive ways in which other groups or individuals were involved to provide funds, resources, or publicity. The soundness of approach, rationale, and scientific design (if applicable). The clarity and effectiveness of presentation ) Role of Sponsor The adult sponsor plays an important role in : helping a young person or a group of young ; people carry out their projects and apply for awards. Sponsors should offer suggestions and , advice on: Developing a sound«approach to the project. " Project implementation. Working with other groups and individuals in the community. ' Completing the application form(s) and preparing accompanying materials. The sponsor must be an adult and can be a teacher, youth group advisor, summer camp counselor, or community leader. Young people must work closely with the sponsor(s) through- out the project and application procedures. Questions not answered by this brochure can be directed to your state's EPA regional office. Materials submitted as an entry may be used by EPA to provide information about special projects.or about the President's Environmental Youth Awards Program. Printed on Recycled Paper ------- United States Environmental Protection Agency President's Environmental Youth Awards Application Name __ ^___ Street City : : state Zip Project: Describe project and results achieved. Date project was started and ended Did project receive press coverage?_ If "yes", attach press clippings. Number of certificates required On a separate sheet of paper, please list the name(s), addresses, ages, and grades of individuals qualifying for awards Print or type the name(s). Signature(s) of sponsor(s) - Must be signed by adult sponsor(s). Name Name Street = _ street City, State, Zip City, State, Zip Home and business telephone Home and business telephone ------- EPA Regional Offices EPA Region 1 JFK Federal Building Boston, MA 02203 617-565-9447 or FAX: 617-565-3415 Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont EPA Region 2 290 Broadway New York, NY 10007 212-637-3678 or FAX: 212-637-4445 New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands EPA Region 3 841 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-597-6685 or FAX: 215-597-0961 Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, District of Columbia EPA Region 4 345 Courtland Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30365 404-347-3004 or FAX: 404-347-3721 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee EPA Region 5 77 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago, IL 60604 312-886-0995 or FAX: 312-353-1155 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin EPA Region 6 1445 Ross Avenue Dallas, TX 75202-2733 214-655-2204 or FAX: 214-655-2118 ; Arkansas, Louisiana, New-Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas EPA Region 7 726 Minnesota Avenue Kansas City, KS 66101 : 913-551-7003 or FAX: 913-552-7066 \ Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska EPA Region 8 One Denver Place 999 18th Street Denver, CO 80202-2405 303-312-6615 or FAX: 303-312-6961 Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming EPA Region 9 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105 415-744-1582 or FAX: 415-744-1605 Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands EPA Region 10 1200 Sixth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 553-1207 or 1-800-424-4EPA '_ FAX: 206-553-0149 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington ------- |