For
Immediate Release
November 19, 2004
$15,000 Grant Helps Field Naturalists Continue Grow Awareness
Mississippi
Mills – Environmental programs for young people in our community received
a boost today with the news that the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists (MVFN)
have received a three-year $15,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Joining MVFN representatives, president Michael MacPherson
and education director Janinne de Salaberry, for the grant announcement were
Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling and Donna Davidson of the OTF.
"This
investment supports an innovative program that is designed to help local
students learn
more
about their natural surroundings," Sterling said. "I have no doubt it
will create greater
interest
in science and nature, providing an adventurous educational experience for many
young minds in our area."
Mississippi
Valley Field Naturalists strive to make today’s youth good stewards of the
lands they will one day inherit. This grant from the OTF will enable the
organization to continue conducting environmental education programs for schools
and youth groups in north Lanark County, Carleton Place and Beckwith.
With stable funding for three components of this education initiative
over the next three years, MVFN can serve at least 390 students and teachers
each year by providing at least 25 Museum in a Suitcase units, in addition to
helping fund at least two field trips and provide at least three special class,
or group, presenters.
In
2003, MVFN linked forces with the Eastern Ontario Biodiversity Museum to deliver
an exciting new, curriculum-oriented program called Museum in a Suitcase. This
program, divided into five key components related to biodiversity, is delivered
to elementary and secondary classrooms as well as youth groups, complete with
boxes of hands-on material.
MVFN’s
Environmental Education Projects Program (EEPP), coordinated by Janinne
Salaberry, has been active since 2001 and projects funded have included field
trips to outdoor centres and science museums, teacher manuals on endangered
species and other nature educational materials. EEPP will also fund special
speakers, special equipment, library books and any other aspect of environmental
education.
Teachers
and youth leaders can apply now to get involved with this unique environmental
learning opportunity. For further
information on MVFN programs, please contact Mrs. de Salaberry by phone at
256-7292, email jrumberry@hotmail.com,
or by fax 256-6625.
The
Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, receives
annually $100 million of government funding generated through Ontario's charity
casino initiative.
-30-
For more information, please call:
Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists Lanark-Carleton
613-266-5013 613-253-1171