This project provides funding to bosque ecosystem monitoring program to implement its project, which will design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, and…

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 awarded a $284,389 Project Grant to the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program under the Environmental Education Grants Program (CFDA 66.951). The grant will support environmental education activities for 1,000 seventh grade students in Albuquerque, Truth or Consequence, Los Lunas, Belen, and Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Students will learn about bosque ecosystem health through outdoor lessons and data collection measuring groundwater depth, precipitation volume, and plant species identification. The program will also engage 6,000 additional students through climate change and justice education. Subawards to the Albuquerque Public Schools Education Foundation, ASOMBRO Institute for Science Education, Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District, and Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District will provide teacher professional development on outdoor learning and climate change topics. The grant period runs from April 15, 2023 to July 31, 2025.

This project provides funding to bosque ecosystem monitoring program 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 truth or consequence, albuquerque, LOS lunas, belen, and RIO rancho, NM. The recipient will do this by conducting outdoor place-based educational activities and environmental data collection on bosque ecosystem health with seventh grade students.activities:this project will increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues in truth or consequence, albuquerque, LOS lunas, belen, and RIO rancho, NM and provide seventh grade students the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions. Activities to be performed during this project period include: 1,000 students introduced to the environmental education program through lessons, videos and activities; 1,000 students taken to sites along the middle RIO grande river to measure groundwater depth, measure precipitation volume, and identify plant species; creation and finalization of a report on the data collected.subrecipient:subaward recipients include albuquerque public schools education foundation, asombro institute for science education, valencia soil and water conservation district, and ciudad soil and water conservation district. Funds will be used to cover the cost of environmental education continuing education for teachers and professional development focused on outdoor learning and climate change education.outcomes:IT is anticipated that this project will result in the following deliverables: 6,000 students engaged with local, outdoor spaces via education focusing on climate change and climate justice impacts and possible mitigations; finalized report describing bosque data collected; 20 research projects completed by students on environmental topics; professional development workshops conducted reaching 50 teachers. Expected outcomes of the project include: increased student awareness of bosque ecosystem health, climate change impacts, and environmental justice; increased environmental stewardship of students to improve bosque ecosystem health; and increased confidence by educators to teach environmental education. This project will benefit students of truth or consequence, albuquerque, LOS lunas, belen, and RIO rancho, NM.