Aug 26, 2011 3 min read

The Community Foundation of Greene County (CFGC) has awarded a grant to Carmichaels School District to construct a greenhouse and outdoor learning center. The grant award of $30,000 is made from CFGC’s Education Curriculum Improvement Fund.

According to Craig Baily, superintendent of Carmichaels Area School District, the Greenhouse and Outdoor Learning Center will be developed as part of the Environmental Science curriculum primarily for high school students (grades 9-12). The project will also provide hands-on learning opportunities for students in the English, Art and Communications curriculum of the high school, as well as part of the science curriculum for students in Grades K-8.

“Students participating in this project will experience and learn from college level research techniques as well as real-world, hands-on growing and plant propagation activities and ecosystem restoration,” said Kevin Willis, environmental science teacher and greenhouse project manager. “These activities will help students build future work related skills and position them for better success in college.”

The integrated curriculum will provide hands-on research and entrepreneurial activities for high school environmental science students to identify and differentiate between native plants and invasive plants, propagation of native plants, and restoration of a local ecosystem with native vegetation, as well as developing a walking nature trail through the restored ecosystem.

Students will raise native plants will from seed or cuttings in the greenhouse/outdoor classroom and distribute them to local businesses and residents and to restore local ecosystems. As part of their research and restoration activities the students will work closely with the Pennsylvania Conservation District, PA Game Commission, DEP and DCNR Bureau of Forestry, surveying existing invasive species and documenting locations on a map using GPS technology.

The Educational Curriculum Improvement Fund at CFGC was established by contributions from businesses participating in the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC). The grant was made possible by contributions to the fund from CONSOL Energy Inc. and EQT Corporation. The EITC Educational Curriculum Improvement Fund supports innovative educational projects that enhance the curriculum or academic program of a public school.

“The greenhouse grant is a perfect fit for this fund,” said Bettie Stammerjohn, executive director of the Foundation. “We are always looking to support our schools with innovative activities to expand their curriculum. CFGC is pleased to partner with companies such as CONSOL and EQT to make it possible to provide grants that enhance the skills of students in our communities.”

Established through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, businesses may receive Pennsylvania tax credits for their contributions – 90 percent tax credit if the business makes a two-year gift, or a 75 percent tax credit for a single year gift, up to a maximum of $300,000 in credits per taxable year, for the innovative Educational Curriculum Improvement program.

For more information about grants from CFGC or the EITC program contact the CFGC office at 724-627-2010, by email at cfgc@gmail.com, or visit our website at www.cfgc.org.