Profiles of Environmental Education Grants Awarded to Organizations in North Dakota
- Indicates a Headquarters grant
2006 Grants
Solid Waste & Recycling Association $13,375
Angela Boeshans, P.O. Box 235, Carrington, ND 58421
Alternative Disposal for Construction and Demolition Materials
The North Dakota Solid Waste and Recycling Association (NDSWRA) is a non-profit organization that was formed to educate, train, and promote environmentally sound waste management practices. This project increases public knowledge about issues related to backyard burning of household garbage and alternative disposal of construction and demolition materials. Five training sessions are conducted in various regional locations in the communities of Devils Lake, Valley City, Bismarck, Dickinson, and New Town, as well as at the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, Spirit Lake Indian Reservation, and Standing Rock Indian Reservation. These training sessions are promoted to a public audience that includes regional and tribal health district units, local and tribal governments, and teachers and students from state and tribal schools. These training sessions and related conferences discuss the environmental and health impacts of backyard burning and improper disposal of construction and demolition material. In addition, alternatives for destruction or disposal of solid waste are discussed.
2005 Grants
North Dakota State University $14,620
Valrey Kettner, Box 5756 NDSU Station, Fargo, ND 58105-5756
Educating University Students About Environmental Issues in Architecture
Under this grant, North Dakota State University (NDSU) conducts a pilot educational project that educates third-year architecture students about environmental issues in architecture. This project expands the students’ existing knowledge and skills related to environmental performance analysis of new buildings. These educational classes help ensure an adequate supply of well-trained architects who can analyze complex environmental challenges. Students become familiar with analytical techniques in environmental performance, solve environmental design issues, compete in competitions, quantify the environmental benefits of energy efficient designs, and make informed decisions about energy science in relation to architectural design.
2004 Grants
North Dakota Multi-County Special Projects Consortium $10,768
Jack Maust, 8850 18th Avenue NE, Willow City, ND 58384
Multi-County Habitat Project
For years, various agricultural and environmental issues have been very controversial in North Dakota. The North Dakota Multi-County Special Projects Consortium creates understanding and cooperation among such organizations as agricultural agencies, the Pembina County Soil Conservation District, 4H Clubs, and scouting and hunting clubs. The Consortium’s main goal is to train teachers about issues related to agriculture, conservation, water quality, and local economics. Educational tools are being developed, which participating teachers can use to instruct students about environmental issues that affect their local communities and economies.
North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department $2,350
Dorothy Jane Streyle, 1600 East Century Avenue, Suite 3, Bismarck, ND 58502
Ecosystems and Stewardship Traveling Trunk Program
The Ecosystems and Stewardship Traveling Trunk Program provides educators with a collection of hands-on educational tools that help students build a strong understanding of ecosystems and environmental stewardship. This statewide program has a strong community focus. The program greatly increases the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department’s ability to educate the public and students regarding state and local efforts to maintain and restore healthy ecosystems.
2003 Grants
Gateway to Science Center, Inc. $5,000
Elizabeth Demke, 2700 State Street, Suite 17, Bismarck, ND 58502
"Earth Wellness" Environmental Festival
Gateway to Science Center, Inc., is holding its fifth annual “Earth Wellness” Environmental Festival in May 2004. The festival has hands-on activities for fifth-grade teachers and their students and is intended to increase their understanding of how their actions can affect the environment either positively or negatively. In addition, the festival is expanding to include a greater number of participants.
2002 Grants
Dakota Science Center $6,500
Jennifer Ochs, 308 South 5th Street, Grand Forks, ND 58201
Interactive Children's Water Festival
The Dakota Science Center holds an Interactive Children's Water Festival to raise community awareness of the importance of water resources. Through hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations, students directly explore how water affects their lives and their environment. The goal is to increase the prudent use and protection of this precious resource.
Gateway to Science Center, Inc. $5,000
Elizabeth Demke, 2700 State Street, Suite 17, Bismarck, ND 58502
Earth Wellness Environmental Festival
The Gateway to Science Center is holding its fourth annual Earth Wellness Environmental Festival in May 2003 with hands-on activities for fifth grade teachers and their students. The festival increases the teachers' and students' understanding of how their actions affect the environment, both positively and negatively. In addition, the festival is expanding to include a greater number of participants.
Upper Dakota Resource Conservation and Demonstration Council $4,400
Lena A. Bohm, 4215 Burdick Expressway East, Minot, ND 58701
Interactive Mouse River Loop Envirothon Stewards
The regional Envirothon in north central North Dakota helps strengthen students’ understanding of their roles as stewards of North Dakota's natural resources. This Envirothon is a model for other Envirothons within the state. The main objective is to combine in-class curriculum with hands-on field experience concerning the management of natural resources. This is accomplished by working with numerous partners and the National Canon Envirothon format to create a positive event for students and teachers in a multi-county area. The educational priorities address educational reform, teaching skills, and career development. The target audience is composed of students between the ages of 15 and 18 and high school vocational teachers.
2001 Grants
University of North Dakota $16,687
Lars Helgeson, Box 7189, Grand Forks, ND 58202
Teacher Education Programs To Provide Training for Native American Teachers
The project provides subsidies for the purchase of instruments for teacher education programs that train Native American teachers and students to perform water quality measurements. A four-day workshop is held at Little Hoop Community College in Fort Totten to implement mapping techniques, and a web site is developed.
2000 Grants
University of North Dakota $8,200
Daniel Daly, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9018
North Dakota Red River Basin River Watch Project
The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) is holding a one-time laboratory field experience for two high schools in Grand Forks County, North Dakota, and two schools in Polk County, Minnesota. The proven River Watch program is the vehicle used. The goal is to enhance the River Watch educational experience for the Minnesota schools, which are already in the program, and to introduce the River Watch Program to North Dakota schools, as the first step in building a water-focused environmental education program in the North Dakota portion of the Red River watershed. The objectives of the program are to provide area students an opportunity to become aware of the careers available in scientific research and environmental studies, to develop students' critical-thinking and problem-solving skills as they participate in data collection and assessment procedures, and to provide area educators with an activity that is consistent with the national and state science education standards and is built on existing local environmental education activities and curricula. The outcomes include an enhanced environmental education experience for secondary students and strengthened ties among the scientific, environmental, and educational communities in the North Dakota and Minnesota portions of the watershed.
1999 Grants
North Dakota Solid Waste Management Association $5,000
Mary Aldrich, P. O. Box 3241, Fargo, ND 58108-3241
Three Waste Reduction Workshops in the State
The waste reduction workshops provided under this project are geared to meeting the goal of reducing waste by 40 percent by 2000. The workshops are publicized in a newsletter published by the North Dakota Solid Waste Management Association, and invitations are sent to members of the association. Through a mass mailing, invitations also are sent to more than 900 teachers, professionals in the waste management industry, officials of cities and counties, recyclers, and other interested parties in the state. Each workshop accommodates 30 participants. The target audience includes elementary and high school teachers, as well as college professors throughout the state; college students who have an interest in geology, sociology, biology, the humanities, government, industrial technology, or engineering; professionals in the waste management industry; officials of cities and counties; recyclers; waster haulers; owners and operators of landfills; and concerned citizens.
1998 Grants
Gateway to Science Center $6,150
Jim Collins, Jr., 2700 State Street, Bismarck, ND 58501
Coalition for Conservation and Environmental Education
Under this project, conferences are held for educators at the kindergarten through grade 12 levels in North Dakota, especially those educators in home school and Native American programs. Sessions address education reform and the development of community action projects.
North Dakota State University $76,388
Theodore S. May, Teacher Education, 155 EML Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5057
Engaging Middle Schools in Regional Environmental Issue Investigations
This project provides professional development for middle school teachers by training them in the use of a strong research-based curriculum to engage students in regional environmental issues. The project builds the capacity of participating teachers to use the interdisciplinary curriculum and enhance their teaching skills. During summer workshops, teachers are trained in issues related to environmental education. North Dakota State University partners with the Center for Instruction, Staff Development and Evaluation (CISDE) for this project.
1996 Grants
North Dakota Council on the Arts $5,000
Troyd Geist, 4118 E. Broadway, Ste 70, Bismarck, ND 58501-4086
North Dakota Council on the Arts
This project demonstrates the interplay between traditional and scientific environmental knowledge, practices, and issues. It increases public awareness of environmental issues as they relate to cultural preservation.
University of North Dakota $13,684
Dr. Sally Eckert-Tilotta, Grand Forks County, Grand Forks, ND 58202
Environmental Workshop for Science Teachers
This project offers an environmental workshop for junior and senior high school science teachers. It also enables science teachers to explore the degradation of water. It includes teachers of biological and physical science and involves Native American and state schools in North Dakota.
1993 Grants
North Dakota Forest Service $10,150
Glenda Fauske, First and Brander, Bottineau, ND 58318
Project Learning Tree, Info & Education
This program will implement the revised Project Learning Tree (PLT) curriculum guides and modules in North Dakota to provide teaching aids through a group of volunteer facilitators comprised of teachers and local and state government employees.
Willing Kids Recycle Project, Inc. $5,000
WKRP, P. O. Box 02, Washburn, ND 58577-0002
Willing Kids Recycle Project
The purpose of the WKRP project is to conduct training seminars on implementing rural recycling programs and source reduction to tribal community leaders and youth.
1992 Grants
North Dakota State University $25,000
Fargo, ND 58105
Environmental Education for Native American Youth
The purpose of this program is to develop and implement a series of lessons in environmental education for Native American youths.