This project provides funding to openlands to implement its project, which will design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, and techniques, that will serve to…

This $100,000 Project Grant awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Environmental Education Grants Program (CFDA 66.951) supports Openlands, a non-profit organization, to implement an environmental education initiative in Chicago, Illinois. The project will train over 30 educators to integrate outdoor learning and hands-on environmental stewardship activities into their lesson plans, empowering them to become teacher leaders who inspire other educators to adapt these practices. Additionally, the project will engage over 1,000 students in a student-led environmental stewardship project that aims to increase climate resiliency by planting trees to expand the urban canopy and educate the surrounding community about birds and trees. As part of this effort, Openlands will partner with eligible sub-awardees to provide hands-on learning experiences for both educators and students, as well as implement the community tree planting and environmental education activities.

This project provides funding to openlands to implement its project, which will design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, and techniques, that will serve to increase environmental literacy and encourage behavior that will benefit the environment in chicago, illinois. The grantee will do this by creating teacher leaders who will have an in-depth understanding of birds and introduce the topic of trees. Activities include professional development sessions, focusing on birds, the relationship between birds and trees, and the effects of climate change on both, as well as curriculum integration and individualized coaching to support. Additionally, educators will conduct a student-led environmental stewardship project that aims to increase climate resiliency by planting trees to expand the urban canopy and educate the community surrounding each school. Activities:this project will increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues in chicago, illinois and work with 17 schools including over 1,000 students and over 30 educators. With the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions. Activities to be performed during this project period include professional development sessions, focusing on birds, the relationship between birds and trees, and the effects of climate change on both, as well as curriculum integration and individualized coaching to support. Additionally, educators will conduct a student-led environmental stewardship project that aims to increase climate resiliency by planting trees to expand the urban canopy and educate the community surrounding each school. Subrecipient:eligible sub awardees will provide hands-on learning experiences for both educators and students. Additional sub awardees will implement environmental stewardship activities which include tree planting and engaging the broader community in learning about birds and trees.outcomes:IT is anticipated that this project will result in the following deliverables: over 30 educators will integrate outdoor learning and hands on environmental stewardship activities into their lesson plans, educators will become teacher leaders to inspire fellow educators to adapt outdoor learning into their classrooms and students will be empowered to become advocates for nature and educate their community about birds and trees. The intended beneficiaries include 17 chicago public schools, their students and educators.