Columbia, SC—The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District has awarded Conservation Education Mini-Grants to five Richland County schools.  These Mini-Grants will provide up to $250.00 to support schoolyard conservation projects and provide environmental education opportunities for local students.  This year’s recipients are:

·         A.C. Moore Elementary School (Nancy Frick)—Outdoor Classroom

·         Catawba Trail Elementary School (Vikki Pasco)—Greenhouse and Blueberry Orchard

·         L.W. Conder Elementary School (Karen Brown)—Wildlife Habitat

·         Longleaf Middle School (Kristin Ziegler)—Indoor Air Quality Initiative

·         Montessori School of Columbia (Sue Cate)—Wildlife Habitat

“Many of our students do not have the opportunity to observe wildlife in its natural habitat,” says grant recipient Karen Brown.  Installing a wildlife habitat on the school playground “will encourage wildlife to visit” and “give our students the chance to enjoy and observe insects, birds, small mammals, and reptiles.” 

Sue Cate, a teacher at the Montessori School of Columbia, adds that the projects supported by Mini-Grant funds “directly support [her school’s] long-standing mission to teach students how to be good stewards of our earth and natural resources.” 

Faculty and staff members of Richland County schools are eligible to apply for Conservation Education Mini-Grants to support campus conservation projects.  The next application deadline is February 13, 2015.  Details and the application are available online at www.rcgov.us/rswcd. 

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Conservation Districts are political subdivisions of state government under the local direction of five-member Boards of Commissioners. In South Carolina, Conservation District boundaries conform to County boundaries.  The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District promotes the wise planning and use of natural resources for the benefit of the citizens of Richland County.

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