Ohio Environmental Education Fund Recognizes Mill Creek Restoration Project’s Environmental Education Program
Mill Creek Restoration Project (MCRP) has earned another “Outstanding Project Award” by the Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF) and the Environmental Education Council of Ohio. This is the third award that OEEF has bestowed on MCRP for providing “excellent examples of effective environmental education” in the State of Ohio.
The most recent recognition by the two statewide groups is in the “General Public Audience” category for MCRP’s educational programming for people of all ages. Seven other Ohio organizations received the OEEF outstanding award along with MCRP in this category for work completed in 2008. Here is the complete citation from the recently published booklet “Outstanding OEEF Grant Projects for the General Public Audience:”
Mill Creek Restoration Project, “Integrating Cultural History and a Heightened Sense
of Place with Community-based Approaches to Public Storm Water Education,
Urban River Regeneration and Neighborhood Revitalization,” $50,000,
#F-07G-039, Contact: Robin Corathers, robin@millcreekrestoration.org.
Helped to increase public appreciation of the rich cultural history of Mill Creek, a major transportation route in the Underground Railroad; to create functional and educational storm water and wildlife habitat demonstration projects; and to engage more adults (287 participated) and students in revitalizing the blighted Mill Creek corridor in Cincinnati. Educational activities included an oral history project with North Fairmount seniors by Mill Creek students, trained by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center; design and installation of the Laughing Brook wetland, public art, environmental education and storm water demonstration project; planting Mill Creek Freedom Trees; creating a native tree nursery in partnership with a local nonprofit nursery; field work at a native prairie restoration site along the river; and successful work with a developer to integrate eco-friendly storm water strategies into American Can, the $30 million brownfield redevelopment that will have enormous impacts on the local neighborhoods. Collaborators included neighborhood residents and civic associations; businesses; local governments; artists; other nonprofits; students and teachers; and a major contractor and developer. |
According to the OEEF, the organization was created by the Ohio General Assembly in 1990 to enhance Ohio citizens’ awareness and understanding of environmental issues. It is administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and provides general grants to support environmental education efforts within the state of Ohio. The OEEF derives its monies from one-half of the civil penalties collected for violations of Ohio’s air and water pollution control regulations.
The OEEF supports projects that increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues, and provide the skills to make informed decisions and take responsible actions. Environmental Education teaches individuals how to weigh various sides of an issue through critical thinking, and it enhances their problem-solving and decision-making skills.
MCRP is most grateful for the financial and moral support OEEF has given it and other great organizations over the course of many years. It is an indispensable resource for environmental education in Ohio.
