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December 2009 Newsletter

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Funding and Award Deadlines
Upcoming Events
Partner Updates and Resources
Your Virginia

Litter Picks
Assorted Items of Professional Interest
Become Inspired

 

Funding and Awards Deadlines

EPA Environmental Education Grant 
Deadline December 15, 2009
The EPA is accepting environmental education proposals that promote environmental stewardship. Regional EPA offices grant awards from $5,000 - $50,000 and EPA headquarters fund projects from $50,001 - $200,000. Go to:http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html
 
Spirit of Innovation Award 
Deadline December 15, 2009
The Conrad Foundation is an annual competition for high school students to invent innovative products for use in aerospace exploration, space nutrition, renewable energy, and green schools. For more information; go to: http://www.conradawards.com
 
Disney’s Planet Challenge for 4th – 6th Grade Science Classroom Projects 
Deadline December 18, 2009
Disney has partnered with DonersChoose.org to fund 50 percent of environmental science classroom projects that are matched by citizen donations. DonorsChoose.org is an on-line charity where teachers list projects that they want to do in their classrooms. Citizens wishing to give to the various projects may do so. Disney will match each Disney Planet Challenge classroom environmental science project that qualifies. For more information, go to www.Disney.com/planetchallenge
 
President’s Environmental Youth Awards 
Deadline December 31
Students K-12 are eligible to apply for recognition for their programs that help the environment. The Presidential Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) is conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency. For more information, go to: http://www.epa.gov/education/peya/index.html
 
National Environmental Education Foundation 
Deadline January 15, 2010
The National Education Foundation (NEEF) is accepting applications from High School Teachers who have successfully integrated environmental education into their daily curriculum. To apply for the Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award, go to: http://www.neefusa.org/bartlettaward/bartlett_form.htm
 
Toyota Tapestry Grants 
Deadline January 18, 2010
The Toyota Tapestry Grants program offers grants to K-12 science teachers for innovative projects that will enhance science education during the 2010-11 school year. The program will award 50 large grants and a minimum of 20 mini-grants, totaling $550,000 in all, for projects in the categories of Physical Science Application, Environmental Science Education, and Integrating Literacy and Science. For additional information go to: http://www.nsta.org/pd/tapestry/
 
Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge 
Grant Opportunities through January 31, 2010
Can your K- 12 students create a sustainable classroom and make environmental improvements to their school? Go to: http://wecanchange.com/school/about-challenge/faq/
 
NEA Foundation Green Grants
Deadline February 1, 2010
K- 12 public school teachers can apply for up to $5,000 grants for teaching green concepts in the classroom. To apply for a green grant, go to: http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/educators/grant-programs/nea-foundation-green-grants/
 
American Forest & Paper Association Awards 
Deadline February 9, 2010
Does your school, business or community have a paper recycling program? Are people educated about paper recycling? Do you track the paper? How? The AF&PA will give $2,000 to each of their award winners and will promote your program at national and local levels. Go to: http://www.paperrecyclingawards.com/

Gardening for Kids Grants
Kids gardening.com has upcoming grant opportunities for school youth gardens. Go to:
For more information go to: http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants.asp

Upcoming Events

Visit the Virginia Naturally Calendar for a complete list. 

National Bird Day is January 5, 2010
To learn more about birds and National Bird Day, go to: 
http://www.NationalBirdDay.com

Chesapeake Classrooms Course
Watershed Action for Virginia’s Environment, Upcoming course held at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens: Course 8, February 12, 2010.
See the VaN Calendar for more details.

Partner Updates and Resources

Welcome new partners:

Your Virginia

Land Conservation ThermometerGovernor Kaine Endorses No Child Left Inside
Governor Tim Kaine joined 15 other Governors in urging US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, to consider the No Child Left Inside Act (NCLI) when developing priorities for revamping the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). While Congress has not yet set a timeframe for consideration of the ESEA, discussions are already underway. The letter from the Governors helps to put NCLI on the Administration’s radar as priorities are set for consideration by Congress.
 
Mid-Atlantic States Signed Memorandum of Understanding for Generating Renewable Energy
The Governors of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form a partnership for generating clean and renewable energy by harnessing wind energy from off shore. The task force will identify common strategies that can be used for the transmission of the wind energy into the region. For more information go to: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1141
 
Virginia Outdoors Foundation Approves 78,000 Acres for Conservation Easements in 2009 
In 2006, Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced that his goal is to preserve 400,000 acres of open space. To date, more than 356, 170 acres have been preserved including six new state forests, two new state parks, three new wildlife management areas, and thirteen natural area preserves are being created. Most recently, the Roanoke City Council has agreed to support plans to establish two perpetual conservation easements on Mill Mountain and the surrounding 600 acre park. Combining previously announced easements with pending easements on several large parcels, Virginia is moving closer to meeting Governor Kaine's goal. For more information, go to: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1119
 
Contaminated Soil is Source of Mercury in Fish in Shenandoah Valley Rivers
Riverbank and floodplain soils are the major source of mercury in fish from several Shenandoah Valley Rivers.  A new study shows that 96 percent of the mercury loads to the South River come from soil that was contaminated more than 50 years ago by a textile manufacturing plant in Waynesboro, Va.  Mercury from the textile plant washed into the South River and subsequently contaminated the South Fork Shenandoah River, the Shenandoah River, and the floodplains along the three rivers.  The textile plant, operated by DuPont, discharged mercury waste from 1929-1950.

Since 1977 the Commonwealth of Virginia has placed a fish consumption health advisory on 128 miles of river downstream of the plant. Safety standards set by the U.S. EPA are 0.3 parts per million of mercury in fish. High concentrations of mercury occur in fish because mercury accumulates throughout the lifetime of an organism. This bioaccumulation is magnified in organisms at higher levels in the food chain.

During the study, USGS scientists and partners from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), and the U.S. EPA collected and analyzed hundreds of water and sediment samples.  By using computer models, they simulated water, sediment and mercury movement in the South River watershed.  The results of the study will be used by VDEQ to develop plans for cleaning up the rivers contaminated with mercury.

Help on the study also came from the South River Science Team, comprised of scientists from government agencies, universities, DuPont, environmental groups, and other stakeholders who have met regularly for the past 10 years.  The team is co-sponsored by DuPont, which operated the plant, and the VDEQ.  The report and details on this study are available online.

Virginia Natural Resource Agency News
For the latest information about VA’s seven natural resource agencies visit http://www.naturalresources.virginia.gov/index.cfm  and click on the agency link you need. 

Litter Picks

Local Governments Receive More than $1.5 M in Non-competitive Grants
DEQ processed 188 grant applications representing 137 single local governments and 169 local governments represented by co-ops. There are 324 eligible local governments in Virginia. 18 did not receive grant funding. 
 
There was $1,524,694 available for disbursement. $1,514,879 was the actual amount disbursed. This left a remaining balance of $9,815 from local government’s grant deductions for having greater than the allowable 25% carry forward. 
 
The guidelines state that if a local government applies as a co-op, it is guaranteed to receive $1,000. This hasn’t been an issue for the past couple of years. With the amount collected being down this year, the small towns that applied as part of a co-op benefited from this stipulation. 
 
For additional information about the non-competitive litter prevention and recycling grants; contact Sheila Barnett at Sheila.barnett@deq.virginia.gov or (804) 698-4055.
 
Virginia Council on Litter Prevention and Recycling (VCLPR) Teleconference Scheduled for December 16th
The VCLPR will hold their quarterly meeting via teleconference on Wednesday December 16 beginning at 10:30 a.m. Participants can call into one of two teleconference lines, either 804-698-4504 or 804-698-4518. The primary topic to be discussed is whether the VCLPR should continue as a separate entity, or if it should become part of Keep Virginia Beautiful. For more information about this topic, contact Julie May, VCLPR President at jmay@co.stafford.va.us or (540) 658-4579.
 
2009 Keep America Beautiful Litter Study Available
KAB posted the results of their national litter study.  To read the report go to: http://www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagename=LitterResearch2009
 
Litter Program Links with Science at VAST PDI
  • Pollution Solutions Presentation
    Sheila Barnett, of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and three representatives from Virginia’s litter programs; Jinx Baney, Brenda Evans, and Julie May presented a session titled; Pollution Solutions at the Virginia Association of Science Teachers (VAST) Professional Development Institute on November 6, 2009. 
Presentations included: “The Preventable Journey” and “How Long Will it be There?” from the Pollution Solutions Activities guide that was developed by the Virginia Resource-Use Education Council and funded by the Litter Control and Recycling Fund. “Who Polluted the River” demonstrated the impact of litter and other pollutants on our waterways. The teachers learned that litter and recycling program managers have many resources to offer and they are available to conduct presentations for schools and classes. 
  • Wheel of Litter Spins at the Virginia Association of Science Teacher Conference
    Several litter prevention programs joined together to exhibit at VAST. The purpose of this booth, sponsored by the Department of Environmental Quality, was to help link teachers to litter and recycling program managers in their localities who can provide resources and presentation in schools and classrooms. 

    The three-panel display featured several local litter programs in Virginia. Quest for a Clean Community was on display as an example of a resource created to teach litter, recycling, and other environmental concepts. The activity was so popular that 26 teachers signed-up for a copy for their classrooms. Many other teachers consulted the directed to find their local litter program manager. Approximately 160 Pollution Solutions CDswere distributed.   Brunswick County (Jinx Baney) brought their “Wheel of Litter.” Teachers spun the wheel and were asked an environmental question from the Quest for a Clean Community. Correct responses received a prize. The Wheel of Litter was so popular that it was mentioned during the General Session on Saturday morning. Twenty-six people signed up to receive the Virginia Naturally newsletter. 

Trash Free Potomac Facility Looking for Partners
The Alice Ferguson Foundation is piloting a trash-free Potomac partnership program. It is open to any business, non-profit or government agency that completes the pledge and wants to study their own waste and look for ways to divert waste from landfills and implement recycling programs as a means to reducing litter. Partners would be required to submit an annual report to the Alice Ferguson Foundation. The Alice Ferguson Foundation created a handbook with local resources available in Northern Virginia that can provide assistance with litter and recycling programs and has steps that businesses can take to eliminate waste. Go to: http://www.fergusonfoundation.org/trash_initiative/trash_freepotomacfacility.html

Litter Summit Draws 100 Attendees
The Central Virginia Waste Management Authority, Keep Virginia Beautiful, Keep America Beautiful, Tidewater Fiber Corporation, and Altria partnered to host a littering summit from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Henrico Training Center on October 21. Secretary of Natural Resources, L. Preston Bryant, Jr. was the keynote speaker. Who litters, what they litter and why people litter was discussed as well as the different approaches that Virginia takes to manage litter in the Commonwealth.

For additional information about the summit and Keep Virginia Beautiful, contact Nancy Drumheller at ndrumheller@cvwma.com or John Deuel at jdeuel2012@gmail.com
 

Virginia Recycling Association’s Annual Meeting
The Virginia Recycling Association hosted its annual membership meeting in Charlottesville on November 6, 2009.  With approximately 80 members in attendance, the meeting highlights included a presentation by Scott Cassell of the Product Stewardship Institute on PSI’s goals and activities, a presentation by John Deuel on the Keep Virginia Beautiful initiative, and a presentation by Kate Vasquez on the failed merger of Keep America Beautiful with the National Recycling Coalition.  State agency representatives provided information on DEQ’s and the Department of Education’s response to JLARC’s recommendations in its 2008 “Report on Waste Reduction Efforts in Virginia.”  Members also heard reports from Erica Trout, VRA manager, on its finances, from Craig Coker on the work of the Organics subcommittee activities, and from Nathaniel Townley on the Construction and Demolition Materials subcommittee activities.  For further information, contact Erica Trout of the VRA at (804) 3204231 or at vra@vrarecycles.org.

News from Gateway Streetscape Foundation – Submitted by Lois Christensen

  • Trash to Riches Recycling Contest
    Gateway Streetscape Foundation is promoting recycling through its recycled art contests. The goal is to increase student awareness of recycling and waste minimization. Local youth from all grade levels were invited to enter a piece of three-dimensional art that uses “throw away recycled materials”.   The acceptable recyclables that were used for the art were as follows: Paper products could include catalogs, hard and softbound books, junk mail, magazines, newspaper, office paper, phone books and all types of cardboard. Containers using #1 and #2 plastic, aluminum cans, steel cans, glass and rubber were acceptable.
  • Fall Household Hazardous Waste Day
    The annual fall Household Hazardous Waste Day event was held on October 10, 2009 at our new location, the Henry County Service Center on Fairystone Park Highway in Bassett, Virginia. This event allowed area residents from the City of Martinsville and Henry County to properly dispose of solvents, paints, fuels, automobile fluids, batteries, computer components, office equipment, ink jet cartridges and old cell phones. One hundred eighteen cars came to drop off their hazardous waste and twenty-eight people worked to make this event possible at no cost to area citizens. Special thanks to the Virginia Litter and Recycling Fund Board for providing a grant to cover the costs of this fall event. We will be scheduling the spring day for April and the tentative date is April 17, 2010.
  • October 2009 Smith River Clean Up Yields 4.80 Tons of Debris
    The 2009 fall Smith River Clean Up successfully resulted in 4.80 tons of trash being removed from our beautiful river, area streams and nearby roads. Groups and individuals were asked to work on area roads for the week preceding the main event on October 3rd. More than sixty volunteers helped to pick up and pull out debris.   Our helpers included neighborhood groups, VDOT, Henry County PSA staff, Gateway Staff, Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Martinsville Sheriff’s Department, City of Martinsville Public Works and individuals. This year Gateway partnered with the Community Pride group that is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and they helped to get our business community involved in the clean up as well.
Gateway has been very successful with taking inventory of areas and targeting them for our fall and winter clean ups. We will continue to do this since we can accomplish a great deal with the equipment and manpower that is assembled for these events. We will soon be scouting the areas to target for our February Smith River Clean Up. We will once again ask groups to work on the roads and stream banks for the week leading up to the main event. Mark your calendars for February 6, 2010 for the Winter Smith River Clean Up. If you are aware of a dumping site that needs our attention, please call 634-4674 or 634-4622 and tell us about it so we can target it for this event.

Singing Recycling Cans Draw Attention
The bins banter, sing, and philosophize—about the importance of recycling.

If you have trouble viewing the videos, you can see also see them at YouTube:  Recycling Comedy Video and the musical Sloop John B Video. For additional information, contact Bob Ingraham at bob@artisanmediastudios.com or ArtisanMediaStudios.com 760 840-1084.

Assorted Items of Professional Interest

Looking for A GREEN Gift for an Educator?
Do you want to promote environmental education in our state? Here’s a way you can make both happen. From now until Christmas, all those who purchase a digital or print subscription to Green Teacher magazine will be supporting Virginia Naturally. The editors of this award-winning magazine will provide a rebate to the Virginia Resource Use Education Council (VRUEC) of 20% for each subscription from our state that they receive from now until December 25th.  To see more information click here.

Environmental Education On-Line Courses Available
The Environmental Education Training Partnership (ETAPP) in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin is offering four on-line courses for students and professionals in the field of environmental education. The classes being offered are:

For more information go to: http://www.uwsp.edu/natres/eetap/index.aspx
 
National Wildlife Federation Launches Eco-Schools USA Program
On November 1, the NFW launched a program called Eco-Schools USA. The purpose of the program are to green school buildings and grounds and provide educational programming by increasing environmental stewardship, awareness, and conservation of resources.   The program is a new component of an international network of schools from around the world. There are currently 30,000 schools in 43 countries that serve as models for sustainable development. For more information about Eco-Schools; go to: http://www.nwf.org/ecoschools/

Helpful Resources

Submitted by Lisa Deaton, the Department of Forestry:
  1. The MINTS Book is now on-line!  http://www.outreach.geos.vt.edu/programs/programs.html
    This is an "Inquiry Field Guide to the Natural History of Schoolyards, Backyards, and Parks" produced by the Virginia Tech Science Outreach Program. 
  2. The USDA Forest Service has a new Conservation Education website:   http://fs.usda.gov/conservationeducation. 
  3. The US Energy Information Administration has launched Energy Explained at http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm.  Energy Kids is still available at http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/.
  4. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service's "SOILS - Tools for Educators" page is at http://soils.usda.gov/education/resources/k_12/tools.html.
  5. The National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health has launched Tox Town, an introduction for secondary students to toxic chemicals and environmental health risks you might encounter in everyday life.  http://www.toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/
The Children and Nature Network
The Children and Nature Network recently published two new resources about reconnecting children to the natural world and a community action guide for building on the children and nature movement.

Visit the website at: http://www.childrenandnature.org/publications/

Become Inspired

Check out Eco Elvis:

 

 

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