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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $137,500 Project Grant to the Outdoor Lab Foundation to implement an environmental education program in Jefferson County, Colorado. The 2-year project, beginning on February 1, 2025 and ending on January 31, 2027, will be funded through the EPA's Environmental Education Grants Program (CFDA 66.951).

The project aims to design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, and techniques that will increase environmental literacy and encourage environmentally responsible behaviors among 5,000 sixth-grade students per year. Key activities include recruiting 80 interns and 2,000 high school leaders to serve as instructors, updating the sustainability unit curriculum in collaboration with teachers and partners, and weaving EPA environmental education guidelines into the existing program. The project will also sub-award $5,000 to the Jefferson County School District to support updates and training for the Outdoor Lab's sustainability unit.

This project provides funding to outdoor lab foundation 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 jefferson county, colorado. The grantee will do this by expanding and enhancing the food waste and recycling curriculum within outdoor lab's sustainability unit and the food waste reduction program. The program will educate 5,000 sixth graders per year on the environmental benefits of reducing waste going to landfills. Activities:this project will increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues in jefferson county, colorado and provide students, teachers, community members the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions. Activities to be performed during this project period include: -recruit 80 interns to serve as supervisors of high school leaders and lead instructors. -recruit 2,000 high school leaders to serve as caring young adult mentors and instructors for outdoor lab between august 2024 and june 2026. -collaborate with teachers, partners, and subaward recipients to update the sustainability unit curriculum. Coordinate four work sessions with peers and colleagues. -weave EPA environmental education guidelines and resources into our existing program. -ensure the sustainability unit and food waste class are extensions of the 6TH grade's ecology science unit and aligns with next generation science standards. -coordinate with neighborhood schoolteachers and principals to ensure the sustainability unit and other courses within outdoor lab can be tailored to fit the needs of specific populations of students. Subrecipient:1. Jefferson county school district (local education; K-12 public schools) - $5,000 - support to update and expand outdoor lab's sustainability unit and train interns in leave no trace 1 and wilderness first aid. 2. Red rocks community college (local education; K-12 public schools) - $5,000 - support to establish a voucher program for outdoor lab interns to access environmental education classes upon internship completion. 3. Colorado alliance for environmental education (NGO or tribal organization - 501(C)(3)) - $5,000 - support to provide vouchers for environmental educator professional development and credentialing for qualifying high school leaders and interns. 4. National outdoor leadership school (NGO or tribal organization - 501(C)(3)) - $5,000 - to provide custom trainings to second year interns in leave no trace level 2. 5. Jeffco public schools foundation (NGO or tribal organization - 501(C)(3)) - $5,000 - to support a teacher's forum to help outdoor lab staff gather input and ideas for strategic goals, curriculum development, and evaluation measures for future outdoor lab programming.outcomes:IT is anticipated that this project will result in the following deliverables: -issue an updated sustainability unit curriculum for outdoor lab by january 2025. The new curriculum will utilize EPA environmental education guidelines and build on food waste, composting, and recycling lessons already in place. -complete training and education of 80 interns on the new sustainability unit curriculum by june 2026. -train and resource 2,000 high school leaders to implement new sustainability unit curriculum between august 2024 and june 2026. -educate 10,000 6TH graders (approximately 3,000 from underserved backgrounds) through outdoor lab's sustainability unit between august 2024 and june 2026. The unit explores how the breaking down and building up of organic matter demonstrates energy flow and mater cycling.