Change Is Simple Incorporated

DESCRIPTION:THIS GRANT IS AUTHORIZED UNDER SECTION 6 OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACT, WHICH REQUIRES THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) TO COMPETITIVELY FUND PROJECTS ANNUALLY. THIS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANT'S WORKPLAN ALIGNS WITH PILLAR 3 OF THE POWERING THE GREAT AMERICAN COMEBACK INITIATIVE, 'PERMITTING REFORM, COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM, AND CROSS-AGENCY PARTNERSHIP.' THE PROJECT TO CHANGE IS SIMPLE, INC. WILL PROVIDE HANDS-ON, IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCES FOCUSING ON SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS (STEM) TO CULTIVATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS AMONG STUDENTS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT'S EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES INCLUDE IMPROVING AIR QUALITY, ENSURING CLEAN AND SAFE WATER AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. THE INTERACTIVE CURRICULA WILL BE DELIVERED BY A TEAM OF TRAINED EDUCATORS AND COLLEGE MENTORS, COVERING A RANGE OF ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH TOPICS INCLUDING AIR QUALITY, NATIVE SPECIES, THE ROLE OF POLLINATION, OCEAN POLLUTION, FLOODING, WATER QUALITY, FOOD SYSTEMS, AND OTHER LOCAL TOPICS. LESSONS ARE TAILORED TO ALIGN WITH GRADE-SPECIFIC CURRICULA AND EMPOWER STUDENTS TO BECOME ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS BY TEACHING THEM SIMPLE ACTIONS THEY CAN IMPLEMENT TO HELP THE PLANET AND CONSIDER FUTURE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROGRAM BUILDS A STRONG FOUNDATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL UNDERSTANDING AND ESTABLISHES MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH STUDENTS, SERVING AS A BRIDGE TO SUPPORT THEIR CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD. SUBAWARDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO LOCAL SCHOOLS AND PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATIONS ALLOWING SCHOOL LIBRARIES TO EXPAND STUDENT ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BOOKS AND RESOURCES. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCLUDE DELIVERING HANDS-ON SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS (STEM) AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION (EE) LEARNING UNITS TO STUDENTS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS FOR TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH A MOBILE LEARNING LAB. EACH UNIT IS DESIGNED TO BUILD UPON PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE, FOSTERING CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND TEAMWORK SKILLS WHILE PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE PROVIDING EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE TO OVER 5100 STUDENTS IN SALEM, WOBURN, AND REVERE DISTRICTS INCLUDING AT LEAST 4-6 UNITS DESIGNED FOR THEIR GRADE-LEVEL INCLUDING CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AIR QUALITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. SUBRECIPIENT:CHANGE IS SIMPLE WILL INVITE THE PARENT-TEACHER ORGANIZATIONS (PTOS) OF PARTNER SCHOOLS SERVED BY THIS GRANT TO APPLY FOR FUNDING TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTAL BOOK COLLECTION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOL LIBRARIES. IN ORDER TO APPLY, PTOS MUST HAVE 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT STATUS. IF NO SUCH ENTITY EXISTS, CHANGE IS SIMPLE WILL AWARD FUNDS TO EDUCATION FOUNDATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS THE SALEM EDUCATION FOUNDATION, TO ESTABLISH ENVIRONMENTAL BOOK COLLECTIONS AT SCHOOL LIBRARIES SERVED BY THIS GRANT. CHANGE IS SIMPLE WILL ENCOURAGE ALL ELIGIBLE PTOS OR EDUCATION FOUNDATIONS OF PARTNER SCHOOLS SERVED BY THIS GRANT TO APPLY. SUBAWARDS NO GREATER THAN $5,000 WILL BE AWARDED TO AT LEAST 5 OF THESE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. IF THERE ARE MORE ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, CHANGE IS SIMPLE MAY ISSUE MORE AWARDS IN SMALLER DENOMINATIONS AND WILL SEEK TO ENSURE THAT MONEY IS DIVIDED AMONGST RECIPIENTS AS EQUITABLY AS POSSIBLE. THE SUM OF SUBAWARDS WILL EQUAL NO MORE AND NO LESS THAN $25,000. OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES: DIRECTLY IMPACT THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY OF APPROXIMATELY 5,100 STUDENTS ACROSS 20 SCHOOLS IN OUR 3 TARGET DISTRICTS. KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 7TH GRADE STUDENTS ACROSS THESE 3 DISTRICTS WILL RECEIVE 24 DIFFERENT STEM WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY, BEHAVIORS THAT IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH, AND INFORMATION ON CAREERS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR. AT LEAST 75% PARTNER SCHOOLS SERVED BY THIS GRANT WILL ESTABLISH ENVIRONMENTAL BOOK C