Hitchcock Center For The Environment Inc

DESCRIPTION:THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE HITCHCOCK CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL EXPAND COMMUNITY-BASED AIR MONITORING IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY, AND PROVIDE TRAINING AND EDUCATION RELATED TO AIR QUALITY AND EXTREME HEAT. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THE HITCHCOCK CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT WILL EXPAND ON THE EXISTING NETWORK OF AIR MONITORS IN THE REGION BY ADDING 10 NEW AIR SENSORS. THE HITCHCOCK CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT WILL WORK WITH THE YALE RESEARCH TEAM TO MAINTAIN THE AIR MONITOR NETWORK AND TO SHARE AIR QUALITY INFORMATION ON A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE WEBSITE. THE HITCHCOCK CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT WILL ALSO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS (PHIWM) TO RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND CONVENE A TEAM OF 10 RESIDENT ADVISORS TO MONITOR AND MAINTAIN THE AIR SENSOR NETWORK. ADDITIONALLY, THE HITCHCOCK CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT WILL TRAIN AND EDUCATE YOUTH LEADERS, SHARE NUMEROUS MULTIMEDIA EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY,ADDRESS EXTREME HEAT, AND IMPROVE CLIMATE RESILIENCE.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROVIDING CAPACITY BUILDING BY RECRUITING, TRAINING, AND CONVENING RESIDENT ADVISORS AND YOUTH LEADERS IN TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP RELATED TO AIR QUALITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE ADVOCACY. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND AN EXISTING NETWORK OF LOCAL AIR SENSORS. THE NETWORK WILL BE EXPANDED THROUGH THE ADDITION OF 10 NEW AIR SENSORS AND THE INCORPORATION OF EXTREME HEAT DATA. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED ON A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE WEBSITE WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE IN SPANISH. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO EDUCATE LOCAL RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS THROUGH PRESENTATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, CITY DEPARTMENTS, LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO WORK WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ACTION STEPS BASED IN AVOIDING AND/OR ADDRESSING POOR AIR QUALITY AND EXTREME HEAT. THE HITCHCOCK CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT WILL ALSO WORK WITH PARTNERS TO PARTICIPATE IN STATE AND REGIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES TO SHARE LESSONS LEARNED, MEASURABLE RESULTS, BEST PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES WITH OTHER STATEWIDE/ REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES.SUBRECIPIENT:THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENTS INCLUDES TWO SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS: YALE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS (PHIWM). THE YALE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH WILL MAINTAIN A DATABASE OF CALIBRATED AND CLEANED DATA FROM ALL LOW-COST AIR SENSORS INCLUDED IN THE HEALTHY AIR NETWORK OVER THE THREE-YEAR PROJECT AND MAINTAIN A PUBLIC WEBSITE TO SHARE AIR QUALITY AND EXTREME HEAT DATA. YALE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN MONTHLY MEETINGS (MARCH 2024 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2027) OF PROJECT PARTNERS AND PROVIDE SEMI-ANNUAL FINANCIAL AND PROGRESS REPORTS. THE PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS (PHIWM) WILL CONVENE MONTHLY MEETINGS (MARCH 2024 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2027) OF PROJECT PARTNERS AND THE RESIDENT ADVISORS AND RECRUIT, TRAIN AND MANAGE THE STIPENDS FOR THE 8 HEALTHY AIR NETWORK RESIDENT ADVISORS. PHIWM WILL ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON AIR QUALITY DATA, HEALTH IMPACTS, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND/OR URBAN FORESTRY AND SUPPORT MAINTENANCE OF THE HEALTHY AIR NETWORK WEBSITE. ACTIVITIES WILL ALSO INCLUDE PROVIDING SEMI-ANNUAL FINANCIAL AND PROGRESS REPORTS, CONDUCTING OUTREACH TO OUR LIVE WELL SPRINGFIELD AND PIONEER VALLEY ASTHMA COALITION MEMBERS AND OTHER NETWORKS TO SUPPORT THE WORK TO INCREASE RESIDENT AND MUNICIPAL ENGAGEMENT. PHIWM WILL ALSO PUBLICIZE PROJECT ACTIVITIES THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS AND ORGANIZE OUTREACH TO RESIDENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE REGION. OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE COORDINATING 10-12 MONTHLY PLANNING MEETINGS WITH THE CORE TEAM PARTNERS, RECRUIT AND TRAIN 8 RESIDENT ADVISORS ABD 4 YOUTH ADVISORS, AND PLACE AND MONITOR 10 ADDITIONAL AIR QUALITY MONITORS. THE PROJECT WILL A

THE HITCHCOCK CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT WILL PARTNER WITH MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO DEVELOP A NEW PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON USING AN ENGINEERING DESIGN CHALLENGE APPROACH TO BUILD STEM CAPACITY IN A LARGE, UNDERSERVED URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN CLASSROOMS THROUGH SCHOOL-BASED DESIGN CHALLENGES AND CREATING PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND MENTORING SUPPORT FOR EACH TEACHER PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. THE MUSEUM WILL SCHEDULE FIELD TRIPS FOR PARTICIPATING CLASSROOMS TO ITS “LIVING BUILDING,” A NET ZERO ENERGY FACILITY THAT HARVESTS AND RECYCLES ITS OWN WATER, USES COMPOSTING TOILETS, AND WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH RESPONSIBLY SOURCED, NONTOXIC MATERIALS. THE PROJECT WILL ENHANCE MATERIALS AND CURRICULUM FOR PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND ENCOURAGE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO EXPLORE THE INTERSECTIONS OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN AND THEIR ROLE IN ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES THAT CONFRONT SOCIETY.

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE HITCHCOCK CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN COMMUNITIES IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. THE GRANTEE WILL PARTNER WITH FOUR TITLE I SCHOOLS TO OFFER ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO APPROXIMATELY 20 CLASSROOMS AND 400 FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS. THE RECIPIENT WILL PROVIDE PARTICIPATING CLASSROOMS WITH FOUR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DESIGN CHALLENGES TO 20 CLASSROOMS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO WATER FILTRATION, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, RAINWATER CAPTURE, AND AIR QUALITY, A FIELD TRIP TO THE HITCHCOCK CENTER'S LIVING BUILDING, AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT STUDENT-CREATED CLIMATE ACTION PLANS. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND PROVIDE STUDENTS AT TITLE I SCHOOLS WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS TO SUPPORT STUDENT-CREATED CLIMATE ACTION PLANS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE: PLANNING WITH SCHOOLS AND PARTNERS, DEVELOPING MATERIALS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING CHALLENGES, BUILDING A FRAMEWORK FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOUR DESIGN CHALLENGES, A FIELD TRIP TO THE HITCHCOCK CENTER'S LIVING BUILDING, STUDENT-DEVELOPED CLIMATE ACTION PLANS, PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND SHARING OF PROGRAM EVALUATION FINDINGS. SUBRECIPIENT:THE RECIPIENT PROPOSES FOUR FIXED AMOUNT SUBAWARDS AT $5,000 EACH TOTALING $20,000, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 25% REQUIREMENT DESCRIBED IN THE APPLICATION GUIDANCE. THE SUBAWARD FUNDS WILL BE AWARDED TO SUPPORT SCHOOL PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROJECT AND OFFSET THE COSTS OF PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. SUBRECIPIENTS WILL WORK WITH THE HITCHCOCK CENTER TO FACILITATE FIELD TRIPS TO THE HITCHCOCK CENTER'S LIVING BUILDING. ADDITIONALLY, SUBRECIPIENT SCHOOLS WILL USE SUBAWARD FUNDS TO PURCHASE MATERIALS FOR THEIR 5TH GRADE STUDENTS TO CONDUCT THE PROJECT'S FOUR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING CHALLENGES AND TO CONDUCT A CLIMATE ACTION PROJECT. ALL SUBAWARD FUNDS WILL BE PARTIALLY AWARDED UPON COMPLETION OF THE FOLLOWING MILESTONES: COMPLETION OF FIELD TRIPS BY ALL PARTICIPATING 5TH GRADE CLASSES TO THE HITCHCOCK CENTER'S LIVING BUILDING ($1,000), ACQUISITION OF ALL MATERIALS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN CHALLENGES ($2,000), AND COMPLETION OF THE STUDENT ACTION PROJECTS BY ALL PARTICIPATING 5TH GRADE CLASSES ($2,000). OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES: 4 SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING CHALLENGES, 4 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT VIDEOS FOR EACH OF THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING CHALLENGES, A FIELDTRIP TO THE HITCHCOCK CENTER FOR 20 CLASSROOMS, DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT CLIMATE ACTION PLANS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING MODEL THAT ALIGNS WITH CURRICULUM STANDARDS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE: EVALUATION SURVEYS DEMONSTRATING INCREASE IN TEACHER EXPERIENTIAL TEACHING SKILLS, INCREASED SCHOOL CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE, INCREASE IN STUDENT AND TEACHER UNDERSTANDING OF NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS, INCREASE IN LOCAL UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS, INCREASED INTEGRATION OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING INTO TITLE I SCHOOL CURRICULUM, INCREASED AWARENESS AND ADOPTION OF NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS, AND INCREASED CAPACITY OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO BUILD RESILIENCY AND ENGAGE IN CLIMATE-CHANGE SOLUTIONS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE 20 CLASSROOMS AND 400 FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS FROM TITLE I SCHOOL DISTRICTS REPRESENTING LOW-INCOME RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT WATERSHED-BASED EDUCATION IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY, FOCUSING ON RURAL UNDERSERVED SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT OF STUDENTS IN CLASSROOM AND FIELD BASED LEARNING AS WELL AS PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS. THIS PROJECT WILL ENGAGE STUDENTS IN COMMUNITY-BASED ACTION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE ENGINEERING DESIGN CHALLENGES THAT DRAW FROM NOAA'S CLIMATE EDUCATION TOOLKIT. THIS PROJECT WILL REACH APPROXIMATELY 200 STUDENTS, 10 TEACHERS, 5 PRINCIPALS 1 CURRICULUM DIRECTOR, 20 PARENT CHAPERONES, AND 6 REGIONAL/TOWN PLANNING OR CLIMATE RESILIENCE EXPERTS.