Artist Boat Inc

ARTIST BOAT- SCIENCE + ACTION = GULF COAST LITERACY (ECO-ART WORKSHOP AND ADVENTURE, COASTAL WATERS INSTITUTE, AND LOW FREQUENCY AM RADIO STATIONS

THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 FOR THE ARTIST BOAT INC. TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGN AND BUILD PROJECTS THAT FILTER AND RETAIN STORM WATER RUN-OFF THROUGH WATERSMART LANDSCAPE FEATURES ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES. THROUGH THIS PROJECT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WILL DEVELOP AND DRIVE A CAMPAIGN TO BUILD AWARENESS OF THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF POOR WATER QUALITY IN GALVESTON BAY AND THE GULF OF MEXICO.

THE "ISLAND STYLE - SYSTEMIC TRAINING FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP IN THE ENVIRONMENT" WILL DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT SYSTEMIC MWEE'S AT THE GALVESTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (GISD) FOR ALL SIXTH-GRADE STUDENTS (450 STUDENTS) ON THE AUSTIN CAMPUS AND DELIVER A 40-HOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO 23+ SIXTH-GRADE TEACHERS. THE PROJECT WILL UTILIZE PARTNERS FROM NOAA, GISD STAFF, AREA NON-PROFITS, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON TO DEVELOP, DESIGN, IMPLEMENT, AND EVALUATE THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE TWENTY IN-CLASS AND FIELD-BASED LESSONS THAT WILL RESULT IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PROJECT AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AT A SCHOOL CONFERENCE, BASED AROUND THE DRIVING QUESTION OF HOW THE GULF OF MEXICO, GALVESTON BAY, AND GALVESTON ISLAND ADD VALUE TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE AND IF THIS VALUE CAN BE CHANGED. DELIVERY METHODS WILL INCLUDE MEETINGS TO DESIGN, AUTHOR, IMPLEMENT, DELIVER, AND EVALUATE THE MODEL; SUMMER TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMPANION SUPPOR

PURPOSE: P.E.A.K WILL PROVIDE 1) 32 HOURS OF PD TO 15 TEACHERS IN THREE LOW INCOME, MAJORITY MINORITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ENABLE THEM TO INCREASE STUDENT CLIMATE LITERACY, STUDENT LED DECISION MAKING, AND STUDENT DETERMINED CLIMATE ACTION PROJECTS; 2) PROVIDE 25 CLASSES OF STUDENTS (625 STUDENTS) WITH AN ECO-ART ADVENTURE TO THE COASTAL HERITAGE PRESERVE AND A STUDENT SELECTED CLIMATE FIELD ADVENTURE (8 HOURS); 3) A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS (17 HOURS) IN ECO-ART, CARBON FOOTPRINT ASSESSMENT, BLUE CARBON, AND CREATION OF STUDENT SELECTED DRIVING QUESTIONS AND CLIMATE ACTION PROJECTS. THERE WILL BE A FOCUS ON DEVELOPING ALL COMPONENTS COLLABORATIVELY WITH ARTIST BOAT, THE TEAM OF EXPERTS, AND DISTRICT LEADERS. THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN DELIVERY OF THE PD, STUDENT EXPERIENCES, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND UPDATES AND HELP SHEPHERD THE STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR STUDENT SELECTED CLIMATE FIELD ADVENTURES AND CLIMATE ACTION PROJECTS. ARTIST BOAT AND PARTNERS WILL SUPPORT STUDENTS CURIOSITY AS THEY LEARN TO DIRECT THEIR OWN LEARNING THROUGH THE MWEE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS, AND EXECUTE THEIR CLIMATE ACTION PROJECTS. THIS PROGRAM ENCOURAGES OUR COMMUNITY OF UNDERSERVED STUDENTS TO SEE THEMSELVES AS SCIENTISTS, CREATORS AND PROBLEM SOLVERS. PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED CURRICULUM FUNDED BY BWET, ISLAND STYLE SYSTEMIC MODEL (BLUE CARBON WORKSHOP DRIVING QUESTIONS, STUDENT SELECTED FIELD ADVENTURE AND ACTION PROJECT), WILL BE REVISED TO HAVE A CLIMATE SCIENCE FOCUS, ADD BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LOCALLY RELEVANT CLIMATE ISSUES, AND BE ALIGNED TO CURRENT MIDDLE SCHOOL TEKS AND CLIMATE LITERACY PRINCIPLES WHILE INCORPORATING REAL WORLD DATA SETS.

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE ARTIST BOAT, INC. 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 GALVESTON, LEAGUE CITY, HOUSTON, TEXAS CITY, AND LA MARQUE, TEXAS. THE GRANTEE WILL DO THIS BY PROVIDING SIX TEACHERS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND 625 GRADE 7-12 STUDENTS AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP, A WORKSHOP ON WATERSHEDS AND WATER QUALITY, A STUDENT INQUIRY-BASED WORKSHOP, AN OUTDOOR WORKSHOP ON ESTUARY NATURAL FEATURES, A WORKSHOP ON AIR POLLUTION, AND BY FACILITATING STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP RESEARCH PROJECTS.ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN GALVESTON, LEAGUE CITY, HOUSTON, TEXAS CITY, AND LA MARQUE, TEXAS, AND PROVIDE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE: PROVIDING SIX TEACHERS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND 625 GRADE 7-12 STUDENTS AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP, A WORKSHOP ON WATERSHEDS AND WATER QUALITY, A STUDENT INQUIRY-BASED WORKSHOP, AN OUTDOOR WORKSHOP ON ESTUARY NATURAL FEATURES, A WORKSHOP ON AIR POLLUTION, AND BY FACILITATING STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP RESEARCH PROJECTS.SUBRECIPIENT:CLEAR CREEK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, RAUL YZAGUIRRE SCHOOLS FOR SUCCESS SCHOOL DISTRICT, TEXAS CITY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, ODYSSEY ACADEMY, INC. INDEPENDENT CHARTER DISTRICT, AND GALVESTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE THE SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS. ARTIST BOAT, INC. WILL HELP HELP TEAMS OF STUDENTS AT SCHOOLS WITHIN THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS PICK A LOCALLY RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AND WORK WITH EACH OTHER TO IMPLEMENT A STEWARDSHIP RESEARCH PROJECT TO ADDRESS AND IMPROVE THE ISSUE. EXAMPLES OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS ARE STUDENTS INCREASING AWARENESS OVER USING TRASH AND RECYCLING CANS OR STUDENTS IMPLEMENTING PLANTING OF NATIVE PLANTS AT THEIR SCHOOL. THROUGH THE SUBAWARDS THE SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS WILL PURCHASE SUPPLIES AND/OR SOFTWARE SO STUDENTS HAVE THE MATERIALS THEY NEED TO COMPLETE THE STEWARDSHIP RESEARCH PROJECTS.OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES: SIX TEACHERS PROVIDED A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; 625 GRADE 7-12 STUDENTS PROVIDED SIX EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP AND ASSISTANCE CRAFTING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP RESEARCH PROJECTS; A COMPLETED EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM; AND QUARTERLY REPORTS SUBMITTED TO EPA THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT PERIOD. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE: INCREASED TEACHER KNOWLEDGE OF WETLAND ECOLOGY AND COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS, INCREASED STUDENT KNOWLEDGE OF GALVESTON BAY ECOSYSTEMS AND AIR POLLUTION, INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL STUDENT LITERACY, AND INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP BY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS OF GALVESTON, LEAGUE CITY, HOUSTON, TEXAS CITY, AND LA MARQUE, TEXAS.

STEAM POWERED: BLUE CARBON ART IQ

TURN THE T.I.D.E. WILL PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING TO RESTORE DUNE ECOSYSTEMS AND EMPOWER STUDENTS TO USE THEIR VOICES TO INFORM AND ADVOCATE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

THE PROJECT WILL BUILD AWARENESS OF THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF POOR WATER QUALITY IN GALVESTON BAY, DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS NECESSARY TO MITIGATE POLLUTION OF THE BAY, AND CREATE ACTION TO INCREASE WATER CONSERVATION AND REDUCE STORM RUN-OFF FROM SCHOOL CAMPUSES.

THE PROPOSED PROJECT, COASTAL HERITAGE PRESERVE- HABITAT MANAGEMENT, ENHANCEMENT, AND RESTORATION, AIMS TO MANAGE, ENHANCE, AND RESTORE VALUABLE COASTAL HABITATS ON ARTIST BOAT?S 1039-ACRE COASTAL HERITAGE PRESERVE LOCATED ON THE WEST END OF GALVESTON ISLAND IN GALVESTON COUNTY, TX. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY ENACTING CONSERVATION MEASURES TO CONTROL THE ENCROACHMENT OF UNDESIRABLE WOODY VEGETATION AND NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES WITHIN THE PRESERVE. CONTROL OF THESE SPECIES WILL ALLOW FOR THE ENHANCEMENT AND RESTORATION OF COASTAL PRAIRIE AND GRASSLAND HABITATS THAT EXIST WITH THE PRESERVE, BENEFITING A WIDE RANGE OF BIRDS (GRASSLAND, WATERFOWL, BIRDS OF PREY, SHOREBIRDS, NEOTROPICAL MIGRANTS, AND WADING); ESTUARINE-DEPENDENT FISH, SHRIMPS, AND CRABS; PLUS, OTHER SIGNIFICANT AND DIVERSE SPECIES. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO HELP ARTIST BOAT ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL OF PRESERVING AND RESTORING HABITAT WITHIN THE COASTAL HERITAGE PRESERVE TO INCREASE ITS ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS.

THE SERVICE WILL: 1. ASSIST THE ARTIST BOAT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF THE MANAGEMENT AND ENHANCEMENT OF COASTAL PRAIRIE PROJECT ON GALVESTON ISLAND, TEXAS. THESE EFFORTS WILL FOCUS ON RESTORING AND ENHANCEMENT HABITAT AND REDUCING BRUSH AND INVASIVE VEGETATION AS DESCRIBED HEREIN. 2. ASSIST THE ARTIST BOAT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERALLY-APPROVED MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE PRESERVE ENTITLED HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN. 3. PROVIDE ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE GULF RESTORATION PROGRAM OFFICE (HOUSTON) AS APPROPRIATE. SERVICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MAY INCLUDE BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO: (A) PARTICIPATES AND COLLABORATES JOINTLY WITH THE RECIPIENT IN CARRYING OUT THE SCOPE OF WORK; (B) OTHER FIELD AND LOGISTIC SUPPORT AS NEEDED TO FACILITATE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED (C) WORK WITH THE ARTIST BOAT TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER FLUSHING BARS TO MINIMIZE POTENTIAL MORTALITY OF WILDLIFE ON THE PROJECT; (D) ASSIST THE ARTIST BOAT WITH ASSESSMENTS AND MONITORING OF PROJECT SITE AS NEEDED. PROVIDES FIELD SUPPORT AND POST MONITORING SUPPORT AS NEEDED; (E) ADDITIONALLY, THE SERVICE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CEASE AN ACTIVITY IF PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS ARE NOT MET.