Virginia Coastal Program: 2006 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
4
Grantee:
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality - Office of Environmental Education
Project Title:
Environmental Education
Project Description as Proposed:
This project continues the work begun in 1989 to maintain and coordinate state efforts to educate and train citizens, educators, local government staff, and students living in Virginia’s coastal zone with the goal to effect positive behavior changes toward the environment. The office will facilitate implementation of Virginia's business plan for environmental education. The plan has prioritized state goals to strengthen and promote environmental education with specific strategies and measurable targets for both K-12 and community-based education. A major goal is to build capacity toward delivering quality environmental education in each locality. Specific work of the office includes 1) implementation of the Virginia Bay Communications and Education Plan and tracking progress on education commitments of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, 2) coordinating communications among Virginia’s environmental, bay and marine educators through Virginia Naturally, 3) implementing the environmental Standards of Learning, 4) administering Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), and 5) supporting DEQ’s communications and education plan and strategic goal of an “informed and engaged citizenry.” Staff will work closely with the Coastal Program Outreach Coordinator and other agencies to ensure effective information sharing, broad promotion of program materials, and linkages among state and local education programs.
Federal Funding:
$94,804.00
Project Contact:
Ann M. Regn, 804.698.4442; Ann.Regn@deq.virginia.gov
Project Status:
10/1/2006 - 9/30/2007; Project Completed
Final Product Received:
FINAL REPORT
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Environmental Education
2006
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
The Virginia Office of Environmental Education expands and coordinates state efforts to educate communities, educators, local government staff, and citizens living in Virginia’s coastal zone with the goal to affect positive behavior changes toward the environment. This project supports 50% of the program manager and 60% of communications manager (manager (a portion of 2 staff in an office of 3 full-time staff and 3 part-time staff). The major goal of the project is to build capacity in localities to deliver quality environmental education and to leverage state and federal resources.
The Office helps partners across the Commonwealth work together to provide high quality environmental education to support school and community-based environmental literacy. Major priorities are implementing the education commitments of the Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement and supporting Virginia’s Coastal Zone Management Program and Virginia’s academic standards. The Virginia Department of Education reports that nearly 78% of all Virginia schools were provided some level of watershed education based on the new academic standards in Science. A number of school divisions have begun providing meaningful watershed experiences on Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay, tributaries and local streams but less than 25% of students are able to get outdoors consistently. Community education received a boost this year with the addition a new community education coordinator, development of a leadership program for community educators and funding assistance to local education teams through an EPA grant for regional capacity building.
Virginia Naturally www.vanaturally.com:
Virginia Naturally had 138 new partners sign up bringing the total to over 800. Monthly electronic newsletters are sent to over 1,500 educators across Virginia. 50 partners attended a partner meeting at the NAAEE Conference in Virginia Beach. Thirteen regional groups/teams/alliances are underway in various areas of the state to build local capacity for EE in Virginia. Training was provided to 586 community educators at 12 professional development workshops. In addition, coordination, public information, and resources were provided to 3,809 people at 28 outreach events.
C2K Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences: MWEEs
Through public and private support, 116 schools are implementing meaningful watershed experiences, eight school divisions are developing system-wide plans to integrate meaningful watershed experiences into their curricula, and 23 partners are working with schools to provide programs. Twenty-five educators participated in a two-day training to develop the plans which include professional development, student field investigations and service projects.
Water Education: 6th Grade Science Standards Institute, Project WET, Healthy Water/Healthy People
34 teachers participated in the Sixth Grade Science Standards Institutes, 267 Virginia teachers, non-formal educators and college students participated in 18 workshops for Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Two new workshop facilitators participated in a mentoring program to bring the total number of active volunteers to approximately 30. www.deq.virginia.gov/education/wet.html Five additional Healthy Water workshops introducing new water quality curriculum and test manual were conducted for 63 educators. The materials have been well-received and the web site, www.healthywater.org, is a terrific resource linking classroom activities to field activities and water quality parameters.
Ground Water Festival/Water Monitoring Day/Oyster Festivals and other youth events
With assistance from DEQ’s Regional Offices and other agencies, 1,200 students participated in field days featuring different air, water and waste activities. Student journals and teacher preparation helped make the experience meaningful. This program is funded primarily through a $1500 grant from Nestle’s Waters.
Love-A-Tree - www.deq.virginia.gov/education/loveatree.html
This year's Teacher’s Guide contains lessons that focus on 3 main concepts-- why land conservation is important, what threats exist to the protection of open space (or the protection of our land base) and how land is managed to address the needs of a variety of stakeholders. With $15,000 from International Paper’s Franklin plant, 3000 kits are distributed to educators around Virginia.
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
