Groundwork Hudson Valley Awarded $174,500 to Expand Sustainability Education at Yonkers Public Schools
Groundwork Hudson Valley received two grants totaling $174,500 to develop sustainability education programs in Yonkers Public Schools. The grants were awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).
The EPA awarded $100,000 to Groundwork Hudson Valley to support the “Connecting the Drops: Green Infrastructure and Climate Safe Neighborhoods” program. This program will work with five Yonkers Public High Schools over two years to develop, pilot, and broadly implement a model program linking locally experienced flood risks with climate literacy education and action. Each participating school will receive $5,000 to cover expenses for green infrastructure demonstration projects identified and designed by the students.
In addition, NYSDEC awarded $74,500 to Groundwork Hudson Valley to fund “Furthering the STEM Career Pathway: A Research Fellowship for Yonkers Students at the Science Barge”. With this funding, Groundwork will expand and formalize its youth research initiatives at the Science Barge, a unique floating farm and environmental education center on the Hudson River in downtown Yonkers.
Over the next two years, more than 15 Yonkers high school students will receive year-long highly structured, supportive, and flexible paid fellowship to design, manage, and lead their own scientifically rigorous research projects.
Joel Rodriguez, Groundwork Hudson Valley’s Sustainability Education Manager, said, “The solutions to environmental challenges begin with raising awareness and building skills, especially among young learners. We are working together with Yonkers Public Schools and young community members to identify and solve these environmental issues locally.” He continued, “These awards are investments in both the STEM education of the youth involved and in the future of climate resilience in Yonkers.”
Groundwork Hudson Valley provides STEM education through experiential and hands-on learning at its environmental learning center, the Science Barge, and in person and virtually in the classroom, making STEM concepts tangible and relevant to thousands of local students each year. The Science Barge is currently undergoing renovations and improvements to accommodate student-led research and will be hosting its Grand Opening on Saturday, June 3rd from 12pm-5pm. It will be open to the public on the weekends from 12pm-5pm until late October.
For more information on Groundwork Hudson Valley’s sustainability education programs, please visit groundworkhv.org/programs/sustainability-education.
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About Groundwork Hudson Valley: Groundwork Hudson Valley is an environmental justice non-profit working with communities to improve climate resilience and adaptation, promote sustainability education, and nurture the next generation of environmental leaders. For more information visit groundworkhv.org.