United States
       Environmental Protection
       Agency
903\M-91\001
October 1991
       RoQJoti 3 Office of External Affa;rs (3EAOO)
<&EPA Education for
        Environmental
        Action
        Annual  Report
        FY  1991

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                      Contents



Regional Administrator's Message

Environmental Education Program Goals	   2

External Action	   3

Internal Development	   4

Capability Building for EPA Programs
in Outreach and Education  	   5
Recognition for Adult Leaders  	   6

Regional Networks	   7

State Networks	   8

Bringing EPA to Youth and Educators	   9

Bringing Youth and Educators to EPA	  10

Partnerships	  11,12

International Programs	13

Deputy Regional Administrator's Message	  14

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          Message from the Regional Administrator
   In 1987, the Center for Environmental Learning (GEL) was
established at the Region 3 Office of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.

   GEL, as part of our Office of External Affairs, focuses
on promoting environmental education, improving the public
understanding of current and emerging policy issues, and
increasing opportunities for communication with the academic
community and other segments of the  public.

   Public interest in understanding and solving environmental
problems is continually increasing.  Education is the key to
understanding and also the key to the inclusion of the public in
achieving solutions to environmental problems.  EPA, therefore,
has an important role to play in promoting education.

   On November 16, 1990, President Bush signed into law the
National Environmental Education Act (PL 101-619). This Act
authorizes the funding of grants and internships and the
establishment of a national environmental education training
center.  These new programs will be additional tools we will
have available in this important job.

   Regionally, we are building on a well-established base.
We plan to continue our leadership and expand our partnerships
in environmental education.
                 Edwin B. Erickson
                 Regional Administrator

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     Environmental Education Program Goals


 "Environmental education heightens public
sensitivity to the consequences of individual
and collective actions, while also preparing
future environmental management
professionals."
            President George Bush

 "Only through cooperative efforts and
partnerships mil we be able to accelerate
the development and implementation of
environmental education programs,  individual
awareness,  and the development of a more
scientifically and technically literate workforce."
       EPA Administrator William K. Reilly

    People make decisions based on  more than
what they have learned in a  classroom.

    Region  3's environmental education efforts
are not limited to classroom learning or teaching.
Partners  in continuing environmental education
beyond the classroom include:  business
associations, civic associations, environmental
organizations, city, state and federal  agencies,
and academic institutions.

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                  External Action

    The Center for Environmental Learning actively
participates in environmental coalitions, planning
committees and conferences. Several examples include:

•   Philadelphia's Urban Environmental Coalition in
    developing agency, business, and schools partnerships
    with the seventh grade classes of various schools
    resulting in community action projects.

•   Baltimore's consortium of federal, state, and city
    agencies presenting a teacher training workshop for
    urban teachers on pollution prevention in the Bay.

•   Washington, D.C. working to form a strong network
    of agencies and organizations to increase
    environmental education in the D. C. area.

•  A  Virginia state-wide conference - The Second Annual
    Conference on Environmental Literacy.

•   The National conference on Environmental Labeling
   held in Baltimore.

•   The Sixth International Conference on Solid Waste
   Management and Secondary Materials.

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            Internal Development

A database of mailing lists for regional
programs, which can be sorted to 41 specific
audiences in each state, (approximately 5,000
entries)
A monthly in-house speaker series:
Environmental Consumerism Series

   o  A Regional Report on Participation in an
       International Conference on Environmental
       Labeling

   o  Good Housekeeping and the Environmental
       "Seal of Approval"

New EPA initiatives

   o  33/50 Program

   o  Pollution Prevention

CEL/Federal Womens Program Series

   o  "Science Education in the '90s: Teach Our
       Children Well"

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   Capability Building for EPA Programs
         in Outreach and Education

The Center for Environmental Learning, the
Environmental Services Division and Women In
Science and Engineering members, developed
Educational Speakers Kits for the Region 3 Speakers'
Bureau.  These kits are available to all EPA  staff to
make presentations to youths and adults focusing on
hands-on learning.  Kits developed so far are:

    Pollution Prevention & the Industrial Process
   Household Hazardous Waste
    Watershed and Non-Point Source  Pollution
    Public Participation in Environmental Decisions
   Solid Waste and Recycling
   Environmental Laws and the Legislative Process
   Environmental Careers

CEL sponsored a workshop for the Regional  Adopt-a-
School coordinators to  "compare workplans"  and
share experiences. This has increased the visibility of
the Adopt-A-School Programs throughout the region
while also increasing the spirit of cooperation.

CEL and the Non-Point Source Program  worked
together in  defining the communications goals, to
move ahead with the states in  a similar process.

CEL works in conjunction with numerous Region III
program staff on multi-media projects.

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           Recognition for Adult Leaders

   In five years, twenty-seven Regional Administrator's
Awards for Excellence in Environmental Education have
been presented. Their fine examples are as an inspiration
to others.  The 1991 award winners  are:

Media       Society of Environmental Journalists:
             educated journalists on environmental
             issues.

Business     Law Firm of Manko, Gold & Katcher:
             developed an environmental problem-
             solving  exercise that has been incorporated
             into a major law school's curriculum to
             teach future attorneys.

Academia    Alta S.  Leary Elementary School:
             has shown that  hands-on activities
             integrated into all subject areas increase
             environmental understanding and action.

Non-profit    The Alliance for Acid Rain Monitoring:
             has students and citizens monitoring for
             acid deposition  throughout Pennsylvania.

Government  Virginia State  Parks...Your Backyard
             Classrooms:  a  unique program with forty
             multi-disciplinary lessons which teaches
             educators how to incorporate parks into
             their curriculum.

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OUR REGION
   ri
        EPA REGIONS
   V
      o^a?.
            Wheeling
     EPA Region
     Office Locations
                WEST
                VIRGINIA
 DELA-
 WARE
                            Richmond
 DISTRICT
   OF
COLUMBIA

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                Regional Networks
Advisors: The Center for Environmental Learning Board
          has been a strong resource and important
          forum for exchange.  New members will be
          added to the board to keep interest and
          participation vital.
CEL
Board    Air & Waste Management Association
comprises Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
leaders    Delaware Nature Education Society
from:     Franklin Institute Science Museum
          League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
          League of Women Voters of West Virginia
          Pennsylvania Environmental Council
          Pennsylvania Resources Council
          University of Pittsburgh
          Virginia Council on the Environment
          Regional EPA Directors and Managers

   The board members meet formally twice a year
to discuss direction for the regional environmental
education program.  They also make themselves
available on an as-needed basis.  Each provides
information from his own perspective. Their
contributions have been important in the development
of environmental education programs throughout
Region 3.

    The CEL Board members also reviews the
nominations for the annual  Excellence in Environmental
Education Awards.

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                  State Networks
Networks     Environmental education managers from
             State Departments of Education,
             Environment, and Natural Resources from
             Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West
             Virginia, Delaware, and the District of
             Columbia.

Focus        The network meets twice a year to
             exchange ideas and to provide updates on
             legislation and new developments.
             Featured speakers have discussed EPA's
             new grants and potential sources of funding
             from the United States Department of
             Education.

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       Bringing EPA to Youth and Educators
   As part of the Presidential Youth Awards
   Program,information was distributed describing the
   student award program to 3,000 schools in five states.
   This year, 1,253 personalized Presidential Certificates
   were sent to recognize student's projects.
   At South Philadelphia High School, 15 EPA
   volunteers sponsored professional staff
   development workshops for the entire faculty and
   provided information on EPA issues for a four
   year curriculum project.  Over  100 teachers
   attended.
   To encourage quality competition, Women in Science
   and Engineering and other regional employees
   volunteered as regional judges at the Delaware Valley
   Science Fairs.   Fair organizers appreciated EPA's
   expertise and participation.
•  In August, 1990 a teachers' environmental background
   kit was created. It has been sent to over 500
   classrooms.  The contents included EPA materials and
   references to additional teaching tools.

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       Bringing Youth and Educators to EPA
    After a presentation by the Center for Environmental
Learning Explorer Post #850 was established under the
sponsorship of the Black Employment Program Advisory
Council, (BEPAC) with Post Advisors.  Employees from
Region 3 work directly as role models and mentors with
high school students.

   The first year for the Explorer Post was 1990.
Students learned first-hand about environmental careers
and issues.  They created environmental videos by kids-
for-kids, planned a camping trip, and created a
presentation on  recycling.  Many of the Explorers
returned this year and brought their friends.
    One of the most memorable activities of the work
with our Adopted Schools was Shadow-Day-at-EPA.
Forty-five Abraham Lincoln High School juniors spent the
day with regional attorneys, secretaries, division
directors, cartographers, emergency responders, planners,
and many others.  Both students and staff ended the day's
activities smiling broadly.  All involved wish to make it
an annual event.
                        10

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                Partnerships
    When groups from the academic community or
the general public request EPA's assistance in
developing new programs, the Center for
Environmental Learning is often able to help.

    If the proposed project would advance the
mission of the Agency, CEL looks for "partners"
within the EPA programs whose work has goals
and objectives in common with the project. If
there are no partners within EPA, we make
suggestions to other organizations or agencies that
might find the initiative of interest.

    The Center for Environmental Learning
accepts the responsibility for encouraging
opportunities where EPA's contributions can make
a difference.
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         Franklin Institute Partnership

     The Center for Environmental Learning has an
exciting partnership with The Franklin Institute
Science Museum.

Regional EPA staff and management:

provided ideas that were incorporated into an exhibit
which has been seen by a million people

introduced the Franklin Institute Future Earth exhibit designer
to contacts in EPA Labs for input and photographs

commented on a script that was produced and shown as a video at
the Futures Center on air pollution solutions

participated as role models in the Black Scientists Program

advised several Institute projects

displayed program exhibits, such as the Radon Program banners

attended a "back-stage" briefing and tour of the Futures Center

Franklin Institute Staff and Management:

provided speakers for the annual  Women In Science and Engineering
Luncheon, a recent Senior management meeting, and other forums

assisted EPA to expand its network

served on the Center for Environmental Learning Board

This is just the beginning...
                         12

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               International Programs

    The Center for Environmental Learning has acted
as host for numerous groups of international visitors.
The agendas for these visits generally include
technical presentations from Region 3 staff, local non-
profit organizations and city agencies as well as visits
highlighting Philadelphia historical spots of interest.
International guests have given briefings for regional
staff.   The visitors then have the opportunity to
exchange and receive information.  Also, interviews
with local journalists are arranged, to share our
"international links."

    CEL participated in the Central European
Environmental Seminar, and an environmental
education conference attended by over 400 students
and professionals in Czechoslovakia and recruited a
regional expert to advise the Pennsylvania Institute for
Service Learning in establishing an environmental
study center in Novgorod, USSR.

    Visitors from countries hosted in fiscal  year
1991 included representatives  from:

       People's Republic  of China
       U.S.S.R.
       Germany
       Italy

    EPA  Region 3 has developed an International Visitor's
Guide  to provide orientation to international visitors.
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  Message from the Deputy Regional Administrator
   No matter how well EPA does its job, we will never
be able to maintain clean air, clean water, and the safe
disposal of waste without an active and informed
citizenry.

   There are a variety of organizations working to increase
understanding and appreciation of our man-made and natural
environment. EPA plans to work with these institutions to
enable them  to understand, communicate, and solve some of
the present and future environmental challenges.

   It is mutually beneficial to work together. No
government agency or institution can do the job alone.
In 1987, the Center for Environmental Learning was
instituted to take an active role with leaders in
environmental education, to promote, support, and
encourage others to increase environmental understanding.

   We encourage you to join us.
          Stanley Laskowski
          Deputy Regional Administrator

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                Region 3
     Center for Environmental Learning
            841 Chestnut Street
      Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania 19107
              215/597-9076
         Bonnie J. Smith, Director
      FY 1991 Region 3 Contributors

 Danielle Algazi            Brenda Robinson
 Joyce Baker               Lorna Rosenberg
 Antoinette Bender         Kathy Shelton
 Elinor Elishewitz          Janet Viniski
 Kimberly Jefferson         Donald Welsh
 Evelyn MacKnight         Elaine Wright

Region 3 Women In Science and Engineering
            IN MEMORIUM

           Robert N. Williams
               1933 - 1990
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