May 11, 2012

PROVINCE ANNOUNCES GRANTS TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT ENVIRONMENT, NATURE HELPING THEIR COMMUNITIES

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Community Gardens, Outdoor Classrooms, Playground Renewal Among Projects Made Possible by Provincial Funding: Allan

Students and staff at 16 Manitoba schools will have the opportunity to have fun while learning and contributing to the social, environmental and economic well-being of their communities through the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) grants, Education Minister Nancy Allan announced today.
“Learning takes place not only within the four walls of a school.  Mother Nature is an excellent teacher and the great outdoors is an amazing classroom,” said Allan.  “I am pleased to provide these grants to help teachers develop new quality ways to teach students about how they can contribute to their community and have a sustainable future.”
Fifty-three applications were submitted from 20 school divisions this year.  Projects receiving funding include:

• Landmark Elementary School (Hanover School Division) – The Grow and Give project will model the use of student-created compost to grow plants in the greenhouse they are constructing and then use the plants and food grown to support local gardens and provide food for community organizations.
• École Riverside School (Mystery Lake School Division) – Students will explore the requirements of growing fruits and vegetables in the north, as they design their gardens and examine the environmental and health aspects of the food they eat.  They will share information with a partner school in Jamaica.
• Alonsa School (Turtle River School Division) – Students will embark on a waste-reduction program that incorporates recycling and diversion of waste from landfills, as well as a comprehensive composting program in their school.
• Nelson McIntyre Collegiate (Louis Riel School Division) –The school will create The Wolverine Garden Project, a community garden where students grow organic vegetables and share recipes from their diverse student population.

“Research shows that children engaged with nature demonstrate increased attentiveness and retention of curriculum and improved emotional and social development,” said Allan.  “Through these grants, students also develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills while learning about team work and collaboration.”

The United Nations declared 2005 to 2014 as the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.  ESD grants were first awarded in 2006, with the provincial government and Manitoba Hydro contributing a combined total of $30,000 to support education action projects across the province.  All projects promote hands-on learning approaches, Allan said.  More information about ESD awards and initiatives is available at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/esd/.

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