This project provides funding to inland seas education association to implement its project, which will design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, and techniques,…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $192,352 Project Grant to the Inland Seas Education Association under the Environmental Education Grants Program (CFDA 66.951). This funding will support a two-year project to design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, and techniques to increase environmental literacy and encourage responsible environmental behavior in Suttons Bay, Michigan.

Key activities include hosting a 4-day Great Lakes Watershed Field Course for up to 60 3rd-12th grade educators to provide immersive professional development on watershed conservation. Participants will also receive ongoing support through online forums, virtual cohort meetings, mini-grants, and a network of program alumni. The project aims to increase public awareness of environmental issues, equip teachers with the skills to facilitate student-led environmental stewardship projects in their local communities, and connect educators with a broader network of environmental education practitioners. Subawards will be provided to eligible organizations to share their watershed expertise and inspire teachers.

This project provides funding to inland seas education association 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 suttons BAY, MI the grantee will do this by hosting the great lakes watershed field course which brings 60,3-12TH grade educators for multi day immersive professional development experiences focusing on watershed conservation. In addition, participants will receive support throughout the school year through online forums, virtual cohort meetings, mini grants and a network of program alumni. Activities:this project will increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues in suttons BAY, MI and provide 60, 3RD-12TH grade teachers the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions. Activities to be performed during this project period include: learning about environmental civic actions through a multi day field course, getting tools to help students facilitate stewardship action projects in their local communities and identification of local community issues related to water quality. Subrecipient:subawards will be given to eligible organizations to share their watershed expertise and inspire teachers to implement stewardship action projects with students in their home communities. Outcomes:IT is anticipated that this project will result in the following deliverables: up to 60 teachers completing a 4 day field course over 2 years and participants creating a plan for implementing action projects expected outcomes of the project include: teachers indicating they have the tools to plan a stewardship action project, an increase in knowledge and awareness of water quality and environmental issues, and connecting with alumni who have gone through a similar program. The intended beneficiaries include 3-12 grade students and teachers in the sutton BAY, MI area.