Somerset County environmental education projects receive funding
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is awarding $980,256 in Environmental Education Grants to 56 projects that will promote environmental education and stewardship across Pennsylvania. Nearly all of the projects will support people in environmental justice communities, communities composed of Pennsylvanians that are more threatened by climate change, air pollution, and water pollution, according to a press release issued by DEP.
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Two of the organizations are located in Somerset County. Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium was awarded $29,915 for the “ICC Summer Camp” to host four weeks of day camps for youth ages 7-12 where participants will be engaged in unique learning experiences involving elephants. Youth will learn about climate change, the importance of habitat protection, and sustainability actions.
Mountain Watershed Association was awarded $30,000 to conduct “Expanding Outdoor Education in the Youghiogheny River Watershed” in Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties. The project will facilitate a wide range of activities for all ages to promote watershed education and environmental stewardship, the press release said. Programming includes monthly afterschool and community-based programs, four professional development trainings, and two high school service-learning field trips.
Engaging youth in environment
The DEP Environmental Education Grants program prioritizes proposals that engage youth or adults who live, work, or attend school in environmental justice areas. Funding for 48 projects (97%) support educational activities that will benefit people living in environmental justice areas.
“These projects help connect people to the ways we can protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, and many of them encourage learning at any age whether you're a kid or an adult,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley in the press release. “Nearly every grant we are awarding will support people in environmental justice communities to improve educational opportunities and people’s connections to their environment.”
The 2024 funded projects will deliver a wide range of environmental learning opportunities including providing youth with unique immersive field experiences, engaging community residents in practical climate mitigation projects, supporting school districts’ efforts to develop new STEELS standards-based curriculum, and many more.
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ICC summer camp
The camp is new to the International Conservation Center in Somerset County this year.
"We are thrilled to announce summer camps this summer at the International Conservation Center," said Alex Cauley, public relations and media manager for the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, in an email. "We are excited to offer three new camps that focus on learning about the animals that call our planet home. We are offering a full week and a mini two-day camp. We have three camps available this summer, welcoming children ages 8 to 14."
Camp drop off is at 9 a.m. and pick up at 4 p.m. There is a full week for 8-11-year-olds, a full week for 12-14-year-olds, and a mini-camp (two-day camp).
Nature Explorers ages 8-11 June 17–21, and July 8–12: Through daily outdoor games and activities, young nature explorers will learn about animals and how to protect the habitats they call home.
Conservation Crew ages 12-14, June 24–June 28, and July 15–July 19: Participants will explore the conservation issues facing many of the world’s most endangered animals and how to protect vulnerable species in western Pennsylvania. This camp includes an overnight sleep-away experience at the International Conservation Center on Thursday night.
Go Wild Days ages 8-14, July 1 and July 2: In this two-day nature adventure, campers will learn about the animals and habitats of the International Conservation Center and the care that goes into keeping them happy and healthy.Learn about each camp and register at https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/class-icc-camp/.
Mountain Watershed Association
Lindsey Waugaman, the education and outreach coordinator for Mountain Watershed Association, said she'll be the project lead for this grant.
"We're thrilled to be able to bring more environmental education programs to the Youghiogheny River watershed," she said in an email.
Mountain Watershed Association's mission is to protect, preserve and restore the Youghiogheny River watershed and its broader communities through conservation, recreation, education, and advocacy, according to its website.
"Through the 2023 grant we received from the DEP, we have been curating a lending library for traditional and non-traditional educators to borrow materials for programs they're developing or programs with pre-written lesson plans and curriculum," Waugaman said. "These materials include pelts of native mammals, bird skull replicas, plant and bird identification guides, fishing poles, waders, stream exploration kits, water quality testing materials, orienteering materials, and so much more."
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She said these materials are all free to borrow for two weeks for anyone wanting to explore nature and needs additional support.
"With the 2024 grant, we are able to support our education team in traveling to schools, after-school programs, libraries, Scout groups and community centers to provide nature programming to the community," she said. "We'll be developing additional educational programs that will help communities learn about native amphibians, pollinators, decomposers and watersheds, which is in addition to the programs we already offer: Build a Beaver Dam, Stream Exploration, Learn to Fish, Birds and Beaks, Mammals of the Watershed, Birds of Prey, Owls and Pellets, Life of a Water Droplet, and more."
She said the grant also allows Mountain Watershed Association to improve its lending library by adding materials for recreational activities such as snowshoeing, canoeing, cleanups on the Youghiogheny River and service-learning trips for school-aged students.
"One amazing activity that is funded by the DEP grants is our free annual Family Field Day at Laurel Hill State Park with support from their rangers," Waugaman said. "We'll have free fishing, canoeing and kayaking, nature walks, educational stations, and crafts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 15, at the Willis Pavilion. This event is family friendly and everyone is welcome. You're able to register on our website: www.mtwatershed.com/events."
Madolin Edwards has been a journalist at the Daily American for 37 years, covering school boards and borough councils. She was the Home and Family editor for 20 years, and was the primary editor and reporter for a variety of special projects, features and tabs.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: ICC, watershed group receive DEP funding for educational camps