Grants Awarded to Support Environmental, Ecology and Place-Based Education in the Upper Valley

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation announced $245,784 in grant awards from its Wellborn Ecology Fund.  The grant dollars will support 13 projects run by local schools, agencies and community organizations within the Foundation’s Upper Valley Region, which serves 61 communities in New Hampshire and Vermont.

The Wellborn Ecology Fund promotes environmental, ecology and place-based education programs in the Upper Valley.  These programs increase knowledge of natural systems, provide opportunities for “hands-on” nature study, increase environmental skills, create links and networks among people and institutions and expand overall environmental education capacity in the region.

The next Wellborn Ecology Fund application deadline for grant requests greater than $5,000 is February 1, 2011.  Grant guidelines are available on our website www.nhcf.org/wellborn.  For more information, contact Kevin Peterson at 603-653-0387 ext. 1270 or kp@nhcf.org.

Grant awards were made to the following organizations and programs:

Audubon Vermont received $30,000 for the final year of a three-year program to expand local awareness of the importance of critical bird habitat in the Upper Valley.

Center for Northern Woodlands Education received a $15,000 grant for operating support for its programs in the Upper Valley, including “Northern Woodlands Goes to School.”

Four Winds Nature Institute (in partnership with Lebanon School District) received $29,000 in operating support to continue "Upper Valley Linkages for Environmental Literacy" (UVLEL), which connects teachers with natural-resource experts in the community to enhance environmental learning.

Lake Sunapee Protective Association received $9,284 for the third year of a three-year program to develop and implement a long-range environmental education and teacher-professional-development program for the Kearsarge, Newport and Sunapee school districts.

Nature Museum at Grafton received $22,000 for operating support and program evaluation.

New Hampshire Children in Nature Network received $2,000 to support scholarships for Upper Valley participants in the 2010-2011 New Hampshire Natural Leaders Program.

New Hampshire Lakes Association was awarded a challenge grant of $13,000 to support the summer Youth Employment Program, which will enable students from Lebanon and Mascoma school districts to participate in Lake Host and Lake Conservation Corps projects.

The Fells received a $27,500 operating grant to support education programming at its facility on Lake Sunapee in Newbury, N.H.

Upper Valley Farm-to-School Network was awarded a grant of $25,000 to support and expand farm-to-school programs in Upper Valley communities.

Vermont Institute of Natural Science received a $30,000 operating grant for its education programming in the Upper Valley.

White River Natural Resources Conservation District received $10,000 to continue the BLUE summer nature camp and school program in Newbury, Vt. and other towns.

White River Partnership was awarded $29,000 to initiate a school-based river monitoring and watershed education program in White River valley towns.

Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions received $4,000 to support three days of public workshops and programs on Abenaki traditions in Hanover, N.H. in early May.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation serves communities throughout New Hampshire, southeastern Maine and eastern Vermont. The Charitable Foundation manages a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families and businesses, and awards approximately $30 million annually in grants and scholarships. The Charitable Foundation is nonpartisan, frequently playing the role of convener and catalyst on a broad spectrum of issues. Based in Concord, the Charitable Foundation roots itself in the communities through regional advisory boards. More information is available at www.nhcf.org or by calling 603-225-6641.