Ohio EPA Environmental Education Fund grant supports wetlands ecology project

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) recently awarded Great Lakes Biomimicry a $47,440 grant to develop wetland ecology lessons for middle and high school students from Akron City Schools.

The funding is part of $261,183 recently awarded to seven projects through the Ohio EPA’s Environmental Education Fund grant program. Great Lakes Biomimcry will use its portion of the funding to bring students to two University of Akron field stations at the Panzer Wetland Wildlife Reserve and the Bath Nature Reserve, where they will learn about wetlands through exploring a site in person. The students will also be charged with creating materials for other groups and school districts, including signs, maps, brochures for self-guided tours and a field library. The project aims to sponsor field trips for 800 students in the Akron area.

The Ohio EPA’s Environmental Education grants are awarded annually and are open to schools for all levels of education, local and state government groups and businesses and trade groups. Projects must educate the local community, whether they be targeted at students — from kindergarten to university levels — or the general public.

The Ohio EPA is accepting letters of intent for the next round of Environmental Education Fund grants until Jan. 8, and applications are due by Jan. 15.