Profiles of Environmental Education Grants Awarded to Organizations in Mississippi
- Indicates a Headquarters grant
2011 Grants
Delta State University $59,000
Dr. Nina Baghai-Riding, 1003 W. Sunflower Road, Cleveland, MS 38733-0001
Delta Environmental Education Project (DEEP)
The Delta Environmental Education Project (DEEP) will consist of a two-week summer institute designed for teachers in grades 5 through 8. The summer institute will take place on the campus of Delta State University and will consist of a combination of lectures, laboratory experiences and field trips. Teachers will be provided with environmental science education resources that they can utilized in their classrooms. DEEP will help fulfill the need of science literacy in environmental and natural sciences by utilizing faculty of the Division of Biological and Physical Sciences to expose 5th grade and middle school teachers to address issues pertaining to water conservation and awareness. Approximately 2,000 students will be reached by the teachers. Students largely consist of lo-income, minority populations; therefore the project will reach diverse communities of minority students.
2010 Grants
The University of Southern Mississippi $49,181
Shelia Brown, 118 College Drive #5157, Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Environmental Experince for Undergraduates
During this project, undergraduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) are exposed to a broad spectrum of scientists, researchers, and techniques from the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory - University of Southern Mississippi (GCRL-USM) and the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GNDNEER). Undergraduate students ranging from freshmen to seniors are chosen by instructors of the respective institutions. The professionals serve as role models and provide testimonials for developing career interest in sciences. Through hand-on activities, under-served undergraduate students are linked to their local environment and coastal habitats, improving their stewardship of the local Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Specific outcomes include: (1) increased awareness and content knowledge of coastal habitats of the Gulf of Mexico, (2) improved attitudes and behaviors related to stewardship of local and coastal environments, (3) enhanced experiential environmental education opportunities targeting under-served groups to increase cultural competency by formal and non-formal educators, and (4) increased student interest in environmental science careers.
2007 Grants
Rust College $33,068
Frank Yeh, 150 Rust Avenue, Holly Springs, MS 38635
Rust College Environmental Health Education Program
This project proposes to achieve two goals. The first goal is to develop an environmentally friendly, informed and responsive public via environmental education. The project achieves this first goal through two main objectives: (1) chemical and microbial analyses of ground and surface water contamination by phosphates, nitrates, and microbial organisms believed to come from cattle ranching practices in three counties of rural northwestern Mississippi; (2) present and discuss research findings and data obtained in a public forum with the stakeholders of the counties. This objective is intended to educate the county leaders and citizens about risks to human health in the continued use of contaminated ground and surface waters. The second goal is to develop a sustainable environmental stewardship. An action plan is developed to address water quality restoration needs during the public forum with the leaders and citizens and during nonpublic meetings with stakeholders. Rust College has taken on responsibility to educate and train its students and the citizens of the four counties by offering service learning environmental courses for the students, summer academies for school teachers, and seminars for the public.
2006 Grants
Mississippi's Lower Delta Partnership $9,360
Meg Cooper, P.O. Box 214, Rolling Fork, MS 39159
Great Delta Bear Affair Youth Education Day
A field trip for area fourth graders introduces the students to a variety of conservation-related topics and careers, all of which affect the black bear habitat and population in the Mississippi River delta. Students learn about bear habitat, population, protection, monitoring, and efforts to return the black bear to Mississippi by rotating through a series of presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive activities presented by natural resource professionals. The students can become good environmental stewards and make more informed decisions about the environment.
2005 Grants
St. Catherine Creek Refuge Association, Inc. $5,000
Charman Cupit, P.O. Box 1027, Natchez, MS 39121
Wetland Wonders - A Study of Water Quality and the Effects of Pollutants
Students in grades 7 through 9 visit the St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge and use test kits to analyze nearby stream and pond water for pollutants and overall water quality. Through hands-on activities, students learn the importance of water quality and the effects of pollutants on not only wildlife and their habitat, but on humans as well. Students investigate the source of pollutants and develop plans to drastically reduce or eliminate them from the environment.
2004 Grants
Clinton Community Nature Center Association, Inc. $17,200
Nellie Neal, 617 Dunton Road, P.O. Box 93, Clinton, MS 39060
Teacher Connectivity Model Project
This project involves developing a working model for community-based teacher support in environmental education; embedding the model in central Mississippi for the next decade; and extending the Clinton Community Nature Center's environmental resources to more schools, teachers, and students by presenting and using the model. The model is being documented in a handbook, sample "buddy kit," brochure, Web page, CD, and PowerPoint presentation. The handbook explains the process of teacher connectivity and the use of "buddy kits" by those who organize and approve field trips and nature laboratories at the center. These materials are being distributed to schools and the community. The Web page makes this information available online. The CD and PowerPoint presentation contain targeted information for dissemination.
Mississippi Forestry Commission $3,800
Harold Anderson, 301 North Lamar Street, Suite 300, Jackson, MS 39201
Environmental Education Workshop for Teachers
Project Learning Tree (PLT), sponsored by the Mississippi Forestry Commission, the USDA Forest Service, and the Mississippi Forestry Association, is an unbiased, fact-oriented teaching program based on sound science. The program's goal is to teach students "how to think, not what to think" about environmental issues. The program focuses on pre-service teachers at major universities. PLT is correlated to the Mississippi education framework. PLT is implementing the program through a series of 6-hour workshops, each of which is attended by the 24 pre-service educators funded by the grant. Thus far, 233 educators have received the training and 280 additional educators are scheduled to receive the training. The educators receive PLT activity guides, high school curriculum modules, workshop supplies, and other educational resource materials.
2003 Grants
Clinton Community Nature Center $7,036
Nellie Neal, P.O. Box 93, Clinton, MS 39060
Teacher Support and Outreach
The purpose of this project is to provide local teachers with substantive assistance and technical training in order to facilitate and improve their use of the environmental education resources that are available at the Clinton Community Nature Center. The center has two goals for the project: (1) to provide professional support for teachers who visit the center with their classes and (2) to include eighth- and ninth-grade classes in the center’s network of nature laboratories and teacher support. “Buddy Kits” are being developed for distribution to teachers and students visiting the nature laboratories at the center. An outreach program is being developed to contact teachers who are not familiar with the programs offered. A conference is being planned to introduce 30 new teachers to educational opportunities at the center. A stipend is to be paid to each teacher who attends the conference to cover the cost of a substitute teacher.
2002 Grants
Clinton Community Nature Center Association, Inc. $6,622
Nellie Neal, P. O. Box 93, Clinton, MS 39060
The Teacher Connectivity Project
The Teacher Connectivity Project is a concept developed in response to the needs of individual and teacher groups seeking meaningful field trips for their students. The program goals are to: (1) encourage more teachers to visit the Clinton County Nature Center each year with their classes, and (2) provide materials and methods for meaningful, hands-on, field lab activities to teach on site. To effectively deliver this program, the center works with its informal network of science teachers to review and select environmental lab materials that coordinate with the curriculum currently used in grades 2 through 7. The criteria for selection places emphasis on the area's key environmental issues. A 1-day workshop is held for area teachers to inform them about the center and its programs and to introduce several field trip activities. During the conference, 10 "Nature Lab" activities are introduced and participants are asked to evaluate them for content and usefulness in teaching the subject matter.
Mississippi Urban Forest Council $5,800
Donna Yowell, 164 Trace Cove Drive, Madison, MS 39110
Ribbons of Green
This project is a linear green space program that helps students develop an understanding of how green space, community trees, and other natural resources contribute to better communities. An introductory brochure is sent via the Mississippi Department of Education to all high school environmental science, biology, and zoology teachers throughout the state. Teachers who indicate an interest are contacted and furnished with further information. All teachers who elect to participate are given a "Ribbons of Green" tool kit for their classroom. This tool kit consists of the necessary materials to implement the program within their local school. As part of this program, participating students inventory and map the linear green space in their community. A pilot for this program has been successfully established in one local area high school and the goal is to introduce it to teachers statewide.
2001 Grants
Mississippi Forestry Commission $1,400
Harold Anderson, 301 North Lamar Street, Suite 300, Jackson, MS 39201
Correlation of Project Learning Tree Activities with the Mississippi State Curriculum
Project Learning Tree is a nationally recognized environmental education program. Its activity guide is correlated to Mississippi’s science and social studies curricula. The Mississippi Department of Education is revising the state curriculum. The project correlates Project Learning Tree activities with the new curriculum, posts the activities on the Mississippi Project Learning Tree web site, and produces 20,000 bookmarks that advertise the web site and the new document. The bookmarks are given to public school librarians for distribution to teachers.
2000 Grants
Jackson Public Schools $9,260
Noah Grey, Environmental Learning Center, 6190 Highway 18W, Jackson, MS 39209
A Study of Water Pollution and Prevention
The Environmental Learning Center of the Jackson Public Schools works with all students in the public schools of Jackson and neighboring counties. Its program teaches students about the environment and its importance to our survival. The project focuses on disseminating environmental curricula on preventing water pollution and the effects that polluted water has on the environment. Approximately 3,000 sixth-grade students participate in the project and each school is scheduled to bring classes to the Environmental Learning Center twice during the school year. Among the objectives of the project are to teach students about the water cycle, to make them aware of the causes of water pollution and to teach them how to prevent it, and how to test for certain pollutants.
University of Mississippi $5,000
Bonnie Krause, Office of Research, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677
Environmental Education Teacher and Student Teacher Training
Part of the education program of the Museum's Traveling Trunk Program, this project involves the use of more than 30 trunks of elementary curriculum and supplemental materials which are presented throughout the region. Three trunks, Plants and Civilization, Animal Adaptation, and Soil Conservation, are the focus of the project. The trunks are used to continue training teachers and students through environmental presentations in at least 50 classrooms throughout the region.
1999 Grants
Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts $5,000
Gail Spears, P. O. Box 23005, Jackson, MS 39225
I'm a Conservation Grandparent Workshop
In partnership with local soil and water conservation districts and organizations, the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts offers a limited number of workshops to train grandparents and other senior adults interested in educating children about conservation. In addition to communicating their knowledge to preschool and elementary-age children, Conservation Grandparents engage in speaking opportunities, assist in conducting conservation programs at the local level, and train other grandparents to become Conservation Grandparents. The workshops involve 150 participants, who in turn reach more than 500 children.
Poplarville School District $5,000
Louise Smith, 804 South Julia Street, Poplarville, MS 39470
Outdoor Classroom: An Interpretive Environmental Learning Center
This program enhances the Outdoor Classroom at Poplarville Upper Elementary School with learning stations that provide 500 students and their teachers opportunities for hands-on environmental education and research, in a program based on an interdisciplinary approach.
Starkville School District $91,200
Janet Henderson, 401 Greensboro, Starkville, MS 39759
Environment Education Center and Program at Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge
The Starkville School District serves more than 4,000 students in an area of more than 100 square miles. In cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior and Mississippi State University, the school district has established an environmental education center and program in the wildlife refuge. The essentially rural program emphasizes sustainable use of diminishing resources, fish and wildlife ecology, and the historical significance of natural assets in creating the culture of the South. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade, and at the college level, as well, in Mississippi and Alabama benefit from learning in the environment, where theories can be tested against empirical reality. Very few of such opportunities are available in the impoverished area that the project serves. The program is coordinated with Project Wild, Project Wet, Aquatic Wild, and Project Learning Tree. The ultimate target is 69 school districts within a 140-mile radius of the refuge that serve a population of primarily limited-income families. The project also serves the Choctaw Tribal School System and several private schools.
University of Mississippi $5,000
Dr. M. M. Holland, 125 Old Chemistry, University, MS 38677
Institute for Environmental Education at the University of Mississippi Field Station
In partnership with the university's Department of Biology and the university's School of Education, staff of the University of Mississippi Field Station train teachers to develop ecological principles and incorporate them into the science curriculum of the elementary schools in northern Mississippi. The program includes a week-long summer institute and two workshops held after the institute.
University of Mississippi University Museums $5,000
Bonnie J. Krause, Office of Research, University, MS 38677
Renewed Environmental Education: Traveling Trunks
This project renews and redesigns three environmental education traveling trunks (originally funded through EPA) that circulate among schools, libraries, and other facilities in the upper 20 counties of Mississippi. The trunks enhance the science curriculum in elementary schools, as well as the teaching skills of teachers. This year, 40 elementary school classrooms and 15 teachers are benefiting from the presentations and demonstrations, with additional schools to be reached through the continuing program.
1998 Grants
Mississippi State University $35,156
Joe Sumrall, Curriculum & Instruction, P. O. Box 9705, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Integrating Environmental Education Into Math and Science Curricula
For this project physical science and mathematics teachers of grades 10 through 12 attend a one-week summer workshop. During the program, the teachers develop lesson plans that have environmental components through which students become active participants in safeguarding the environment. The project, administered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction of Mississippi State University and 12 secondary schools, is designed to complement education reform in Mississippi. More than half the schools from which the participating teachers are recruited serve primarily African-American populations, and many are located in rural and low-income communities.
Tunica County School System $15,000
John Keeler, P. O. Box 997, Tunica, MS 38676
Wetlands Environmental Learning Center
This project takes students out of the classroom and into a wildlife wetlands education environment. The wetlands center provides teachers with environmental education teaching tools they can use during and after school. Students have the opportunity to see, touch, and learn about natural resources in an outdoor setting. They learn how wildlife and humans can interact in harmony.
1997 Grants
Crow's Neck Environmental Education Center $4,913
Matthew P. Miller, P. O. Box 460, Tishomingo, MS 38873
Summer Institute in Environmental Education
The Summer Institute in Environmental Education trains teachers in northern Mississippi to incorporate environmentally sound principles into the science curriculum, with particular emphasis placed on the recruitment of schools serving minority populations. The project is conducted by a partnership of the Biological Field Station, the Department of Biology, and the School of Education of the University of Mississippi; the North Mississippi Environmental Education Consortium; and the Crow's Neck Environmental Education Center.
Jackson Public Schools $16,375
Noah Gray, 6190 Highway 18 W, Jackson, MS 39209
Study of Water Pollution and Aqua-Fair
This project focuses on the dissemination of an environmental curriculum on water pollution prevention for 2,500 sixth-grade students and 50 teachers. The project trains teachers to work with students to make them conscious of the effects of water pollution. An Aqua-Fair culminating the students' learning experiences includes a number of activities that highlight a variety of issues related to water.
University of Mississippi $5,000
Bonnie J. Krause, University Museums, University, MS 38677
Environmental Education Training
This project provides three traveling trunk programs that are based on the pine forest of northern Mississippi: Plants and Civilization; Animal Adaptation; and Soil Erosion. The programs are available for use by local classroom teachers. Each traveling trunk contains all the materials teachers need to present the topic to their classes.
1996 Grants
Keep Mississippi Beautiful/People Against Litter $5,000
Sharon M. Buckner, 4785 I 55 N. Suite 103, Jackson, MS 39206
Teacher Environmental Workshop
The Teacher Environmental Workshop is introducing the Keep America Beautiful elementary curriculum - A Waste In Place - to educators for use in their classrooms. The emphasis of the program is reduction of solid waste and litter prevention through waste reduction, recycling, composting, waste-to-energy programs, and landfills. A series of nine workshops will target 223 teachers across the state of Mississippi.
Piney Woods Country Life School $4,500
Shayne Banks, P. O. Box 99, Piney Woods, MS 39148
Interdisciplinary Summer Institute Environmental Education Camp
The Interdisciplinary Summer Institute Environmental Education Camp project is encouraging students to explore environmental careers by introducing them to environmental issues and the management and preservation of natural resources. A camp for youth from 11 to 15 years old will be conducted. The camp will put emphasis on developing critical-thinking skills as applied to environmental issues and stimulating students' minds relative to general environmental issues and concerns.
1995 Grants
Alcorn State University $70,000
Jerome Burton/Theodore Pinnock, P. O. Box 479 (ACEP), Lorman (Claiborne County), MS 39096
Empowering a Grassroots Community
This project will educate community leaders, residents, and volunteers in two rural counties in Mississippi about conditions such as waterborne diseases and other contaminants that threaten the area's surface water quality. "Empowering a Grassroots Community" is designed to educate poor rural residents about the importance of sustaining water quality in their communities; to identify public health risks associated with contaminated water reservoirs; and to assist local, state, and federal water quality agencies in developing solutions to reduce prevailing public health risks. Training activities will include a surface water preservation science fair and discovery program, adopt-a-water workshops, and community service projects. A key partner in the project is the Hermanville Ruritan Club which is responsible for recruiting community volunteers. The project will reach 600 community leaders, residents, and volunteers.
Puckett Attendance Center $16,175
Joe Ann Clark, P. O. Box 40, Pucket, MS 39151
Aqua Fair
This project will be a year-long water study involving classroom activities, field trips, seminars, investigative studies, and a water quality fair. The study will be initiated by an on-campus Aqua Fair with booths staffed by water quality specialists from universities and local, state, and federal agencies. Activities will be structured so that students in kindergarten through 12th grade will learn about environmental problems and their solutions.
1994 Grants
University of Mississippi $5,000
Bonnie J. Krause, Graduate School/Office of Research, University, MS 38677
Traveling Trunk Environmental Education Program
The purpose of this project is to develop a "Traveling Trunk Environmental Education Program" on soil conservation and conduct 3 workshops to train teachers and volunteers in a 20-county area in northern Mississippi in the use of the materials. The program is designed to serve about 1,750 elementary students and 20 teachers.
1993 Grants
The University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
Rosalina V. Hairston, SS Box 5157, Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Wetlands Watch
This project involves an intensive, two-week " wetlands watch" summer institute for teachers focusing on fresh water and wetlands. The community-based environmental action project is led by teachers and high school students in grades 9 through 12.
University of Mississippi $1,988
Clifford A. Ochs, Department of Biology, University, MS 38677
Biology Laboratory for Non-majors
The purpose of this project is to develop a college biology laboratory exercise for non-biology majors to examine causes and consequences of nutrient pollution of an aquatic system and to understand ecological principles related to dependency and interaction of human beings and the environment. Laboratory exercises will include field sampling and testing.
1992 Grants
Keep Clarksdale Beautiful, Inc. $5,000
Clarksdale, MS 38614
Solid Waste Curriculum
This project involves developing a curriculum in local schools for kindergarten through 12th grade. The purpose of the project is to: (1) educate workshop participants about the proper handling of solid waste, (2) identify effective methods for reducing solid waste streams in the community, and (3) address specific problems of the Mississippi delta region.
University of Mississippi $5,000
University, MS 38677
Traveling Trunk Environmental Program
The "Traveling Trunk Environmental Program" project will introduce environmental responsibility and stewardship concepts to local youths. Two trunks, containing educational material formatted at a 4th grade level, will travel to and be presented at schools in a 12-county area in northern Mississippi.