This agreement project provides funding to upper iowa university to implement its project, which will design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, and techniques,…

This $153,878 Environmental Education Grant awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Environmental Education Grants Program (CFDA 66.951) will enable Upper Iowa University to implement a project designed to increase environmental literacy and encourage pro-environmental behaviors in Iowa.

The key project activities include: 1) providing PK-16 teachers with professional development in environmental education through workshops, follow-up sessions, and sub-awards for community projects; 2) educating participants on climate change issues and strategies for incorporating environmental themes into their classrooms; 3) awarding at least 8 sub-grants to local education agencies for action projects (e.g. school gardens); and 4) creating an online environmental education library and resource center. The project aims to increase knowledge and skills in environmental conservation and stewardship among educators, students, and lifelong learners, as well as promote the use of experiential learning strategies.

This agreement project provides funding to upper iowa university 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 iowa. Specifically, the grantee will do this by 1) providing PK-16 teachers with career development in environmental education through workshops, follow up sessions, and subawards for community projects; 2) educating attendees on issues surrounding climate change, the implementation of practices at a local level, and strategies to incorporate the theme into their home classrooms; 3) providing at least 8 subawards for local action projects (e.g. school garden); and 4) creating an online environmental education library and resource center to broadly disseminate materials and provide lifelong learners with resources.activities:this project will increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues in iowa and provide PK-16 teachers and their students, student teachers, and informal environmental educators in iowa the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions. Activities to be performed during this project period include providing environmental education for educators through college credit workshops and follow-up sessions, supporting local community school projects aimed at ensuring clean and safe water and the safe use of chemicals, and providing environmental education to the greater community through lifelong learning courses and partnerships.subrecipient:in-service teacher participants, through their eligible local education agencies (leas), will be able to apply for subawards to implement local action projects. While all teachers will create projects, not all projects require funding assistance. In many cases, the school districts and/or partners will provide what is needed to implement smaller projects. This funding will enable smaller, or lower income leas, the opportunity to create and implement high-quality educational experiences for underserved students. Applicants will submit applications describing the project design, goals, objectives, and outcomes; community partnerships; budget; and how the project will help achieve a positive environmental impact. Goals, objectives, and outcomes must align with the goals and objectives of the project. The EII team will review all subaward applications, score them against a weighted matrix, and determine which LEA's projects will be awarded funds. Each funded award will be assigned an EII staff member as a mentor. At least eight subawards (two for each workshop) will be awarded two months after workshop completion. A total of $25,000 of the $100,000 EPA grant request will go towards subawards.outcomes:IT is anticipated that this project will result in the following deliverables: 4 workshops inclusive of agricultural education facilitated, 4 virtual follow-up sessions conducted, 88 educators trained, 4,800 students educated, and $25,000 in subawards provided to 8 - 16 eligible entities to complete 50 action projects and 8 community presentations. Action projects will be presented on at state and national conferences, and an online library and resource center will be created. Expected short-term outcomes include an increase in knowledge and/or skills in environmental conservation and stewardship among educators, an increase in educators using experiential learning, and an increase in knowledge and/or skills in environmental conservation and stewardship among lifelong learners and partners. Expected medium-term outcomes include an increase in the use of workshop materials and skills, an increase in lesson plans using workshop strategies and content, an increase in student knowledge and skills in environmental conservation and stewardship, successful completion of subaward recipient action projects, a desir