Arlington, VA | January 11, 2016
The Nature Conservancy has selected 50 schools in 15 states across the country as recipients of Nature Works Everywhere grants for the 2015-2016 school year. The grants are designed to connect students to a global challenge—to understand and protect the natural systems that produce our food, water, clean air and energy.
Thanks to generous support from Lowe's and The Walt Disney Company, The Nature Conservancy expanded the program this year to offer grants nationwide, and more than doubled the number of grants awarded in previous years.
The grants help students and teachers address conservation challenges in their communities by implementing natural solutions. School gardens will serve as outdoor science learning labs while achieving positive conservation outcomes which address multiple issues, including storm water retention, increasing biodiversity and pollinator habitat, and improving community green spaces.
"For our planet to prosper in the future, we need to ensure that we're empowering young conservationists today," said Brigitte Griswold, Director of Youth Engagement Programs for The Nature Conservancy. "Building gardens gives students, teachers and community volunteers the opportunity to come together and take action to address environmental issues that affect them right in their own neighborhoods."
Each garden also provides a living learning laboratory for environmental science education at the schools. Each school receives materials and instructions to engage students and local volunteers in building a garden, as well as resources to incorporate standards aligned environmental science lessons focused on the garden throughout the academic year.
"We are honored to present these schools with Nature Works Everywhere gardens grants," said Angela Brisson, manager of the Nature Works Everywhere program for The Nature Conservancy. "Educational gardens provide the opportunity for valuable hands-on learning that grows into a life-long appreciation for the environment and conservation."
To view a map showing each school selected to receive a garden grant, please visit the Nature Works Everywhere Garden Grant Recipient Map.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the web at www.nature.org. To learn about the Conservancy's global initiatives, visit www.nature.org/global. To keep up with current Conservancy news, follow @nature_press on Twitter.
