Environmental Center receives funding for youth education program

The Environmental Center, a nonprofit organization working to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon, was recently awarded two grants totaling $12,485 to support their EarthSmart Kids Outdoor Education program.

The awards were received from the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation for $7,500 and from The Gray Family Foundation of the Oregon Community Foundation for $4,985.

Funds will be used to expand The Environmental Center’s successful EarthSmart classroom education program outdoors to help ground classroom theory through practical, place-based education.  Participating EarthSmart classes will take field trips throughout the year to the landfill and recycling center, wastewater treatment facilities, the headwaters of the Bend watershed, and The Environmental Center’s own Kansas Avenue Learning Garden.  The program will culminate with an outdoor school day at Skyliner Lodge where kids will learn about their local ecosystem and enjoy a day in nature.

About The Environmental Center

The Environmental Center’s mission is to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon.  We translate sustainability into practical action in order to create a healthy future for people and the planet.  

Our programs incorporate education and advocacy to advance our vision of a sustainable Central Oregon. They include: zero waste of materials, energy and water; advocating for a regional public transit system; youth education; advocating for and supporting sustainability initiatives by local governments and businesses, and operating a community campus that demonstrates sustainability in action.