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

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 awarded an $185,879 Environmental Education Grant to the Environmental Science Center under the Environmental Education Grants Program (CFDA 66.951). The Center will implement a project to increase environmental literacy in South King County, Washington through salmon-focused education of 2,400 4th-8th grade students from Title 1 schools and training of 60 teachers from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025.

Specifically, the Center will deliver a six-hour program on habitat, water quality, and stormwater pollution to students to build understanding and encourage solutions. Materials will be translated to Spanish to expand access. Teachers will receive in-depth training over two years to incorporate environmental justice themes into their curriculum. Five subawards totaling less than $185,879 will support indigenous curriculum, engage school districts, and enable restoration projects through purchase of tools and plants. Anticipated outcomes include improved environmental literacy, awareness of factors limiting salmon survival, and stewardship behaviors to protect watershed health.

This project provides funding to environmental science center 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 south king county, washington. The grantee will do this by using salmon as a local phenomenon to educate students on the critical watershed issue of stormwater pollution in south king county, washington. Over two years, this project will target 2,400 4TH-8TH grade students from title 1 schools in this diverse, low-income community and provide training for 60 teachers.activities:this project will increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues in south king county, washington and provide students and teachers the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions. Activities to be performed during this project period include:a six-hour program designed to increase student understanding of habitat and water quality needs, to think critically and brainstorm local stormwater pollution solutions, and to act to physically improve their schoolyard habitats. Stewardship messaging shared with students and their families will be translated and taught in spanish to increase access and impact. A complimentary, in-depth teacher training over the two years will help them incorporate themes of environmental justice in the curriculum and give them confidence to not only continue but expand upon these school campus environmental improvement projects in the future.subrecipient:five subawards will be given. The white river valley museum will support the program by teaching at the field site for different schools and incorporating indigenous curriculum. Local school districts in south king county will help support classes participating in the program and community-based nonprofits with expertise in schoolyard restoration projects and/or environmental justice content and being able to purchase tools, gloves, and plants for schoolyard habitat restoration projects.outcomes:IT is anticipated that this project will result in the following outcomes - to improve environmental literacy by using field-based education experiences to encourage positive connections to local, natural settings, to increase awareness and understanding of limiting factors to salmon survival, and to improve stewardship behaviors to keep the waters healthy for salmon and humans alike. During salmon heroes, students will investigate the questions 'is this a healthy watershed for salmon survival?' and 'how do human activities impact the watershed?' students will research and investigate local issues of poor water quality including low salmon populations. Students will study the interaction of the water cycle and stormwater management practices including pollution from everyday citizen actions. At the end of the program, they become 'salmon heroes,' take a pledge to choose to do everyday activities that protect their watershed and salmon and participate in stewardship actions to improve the waters around their local schoolyard.