Ohio Environmental Education Fund

Financial Summary

State Fiscal Year 2017

Office of Environmental Education Lazarus Government Center

P.O. Box 1049 Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049 50 W. Town Street, Suite 700

Columbus, Ohio 43215 Phone (614) 644-2873 Fax (614) 728-1275

www.epa.ohio.gov/oee/ email oeef@epa.ohio.gov

Ohio Environmental Education Fund Fiscal Activity SFY 2008-2017

SFY 2008 SFY 2009 SFY2010 SFY2011 SFY2012 SFY 2013 SFY2014 SFY2015 SFY2016 SFY 2017

Revenues (1) 1,918,867 1,758,819 1,862,072 1,258,402 1,736,975 1,233,578 849,249 646,840 1,035,413 1,170,226

Expenditures Personal Service (2) 387,470 371,873 341,774 369,837 322,841 336,383 283,692 299,836 300,722 299,394Supplies & Maintenance (3) 56,775 57,730 64,820 73,513 10,118 72,362 75,202 91,222 98,375 95,229Indirect 57,332 63,206 64,321 58,744 162,156 67,812 73,125 78,600 91,620 76,325Equipment 2,062 0 0 1,795 5,560 697 3,333 5,889 0 0

Total Operating Expenses 503,639 492,809 470,915 503,889 500,675 477,254 435,352 475,547 490,717 470,948

Grant Payments (4) 1,413,044 956,858 751,210 1,197,847 748,873 719,028 710,629 526,646 605,963 690,774

Ending Cash Balance 1,915,183 2,224,335 2,864,282 2,420,949 2,908,376 2,918,377 2,621,644 2,266,291 2,205,024 2,213,528Open encumbrances 277,215 286,315 276,790 384,807 466,791 397,288 640,649 880,834 901,745 434,329

Grant AwardsGeneral Grants 719,511 704,600 737,294 700,000 670,438 631,948 568,497 591,444 499,700 524,945Mini Grants 97,596 89,227 95,000 100,256 92,813 100,288 69,706 63,366 71,633 57,644EE partner- and sponsorships 163,550 163,800 147,800 147,800 174,870 155,670 163,656 154,050 161,475 155,875

Total Grant Awards 980,657 957,627 980,094 948,056 938,121 887,906 801,859 808,860 732,808 738,464

Total Commitments (5)Operating + Awards 1,484,296 1,450,436 1,451,009 1,451,945 1,438,796 1,365,160 1,237,211 1,284,407 1,223,525 1,209,412

(1) Includes one-half of civil penalties collected by Ohio EPA air and water programs, plus reimbursements and donations.(2) Includes staff salaries and benefits, reimbursements to volunteers for travel, and substitute teachers.(3) Includes rent, printing, communications, and postage.(4) Includes final payments to previous fiscal years' grantees.(5) Comparable to annual budget.

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Ohio Environmental Education Fund Program Highlights 2017

Educational Priorities for SFY 2017

Ohio law established six allowable uses of OEEF funds, serving three target audiences: pre-kindergarten through university students and teachers, the adult general public, and the regulated community. Funding priorities for OEEF grant programs are set by the OEEF Advisory Council in consultation with the Ohio EPA director. Ohio EPA is interested in using OEEF funds to support projects that are closely linked to the Agency’s overall regulatory priorities and efforts to protect Ohio’s environment. This year, funding was directed to five of the most pressing areas where Ohio EPA has determined an immediate need for more education, awareness and outreach efforts due to significant environmental impacts in our state:

• projects that demonstrate and encourage the use of innovative storm watermanagement practices;

• projects that demonstrate and encourage the reduction of air emissions, including, butnot limited to, promotion of alternative modes of transportation;

• projects that encourage and explain the importance of habitat restoration efforts toincrease biodiversity and improve air and water quality;

• targeted efforts to encourage nutrient management practices that will reduce nutrientloadings to rivers and streams from urban and rural areas; and

• for the pre-K through university audience, projects that encourage students to considercareers in environmental science and engineering. OEEF funds also support this goalthrough annual sponsorship of a number of K-12 STEM (Science, Technology,Engineering and Math) programs and a statewide network of environmental professionalsvolunteering as career ambassadors, through a multi-year partnership with theEnvironmental Education Council of Ohio.

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Ohio EPA is also sensitive to the importance of serving all geographic regions of the state. OEEF grants have been awarded to entities in 82 of Ohio’s 88 counties. OEEF staff members are continuing a multi-year effort to offer grant writing workshops and assist applicants in counties where fewer than two grants have been awarded. This year, four grant writing workshops were offered around the state, with 68 people attending.

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Water Quality Monitoring and Education

Ohio EPA’s Office of Environmental Education (OEE) provides statewide coordination of Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), a highly respected national curriculum for elementary and middle school grades, and its secondary level curriculum Healthy Water, Healthy People (HWHP), training middle and high school students and teachers to monitor water quality in local streams. The OEE also assists Ohio EPA’s Division of Surface Water in training adult volunteer monitors to collect stream quality data under Level 1 of Ohio’s Credible Data program, using HWHP.

This year, 35 new facilitators were certified to host local educator workshops. Statewide, 161 new educators were trained in Project WET, 103 in Healthy Water, Healthy People, 32 in The Wonders of Wetlands, and 36 in Project WET’s new early childhood curriculum, Getting Little Feet Wet.

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Ohio Environmental Education Fund Grants for the Pre-Kindergarten to University Audience

In SFY2017, OEEF funded 13 Pre-Kindergarten - University projects for a total of $294,380.

Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, “You are Here – A Snapshot of the Yellow Creek Watershed,” F-17M-004, $5,000, Mahoning County, Audience: Pre-School to University (grades 3-12), Contact: Stephanie Dyer, sdyer@eastgatecog.org, 234-254-1520.

Toledo Botanical Garden, “Water Pollution & Runoff Training,” F-17M-005, $1,282, Lucas County, Audience: Pre-School to University (grades 2-9), Contact: Hannah Halfhill, hannah.halfhill@toledogarden.org, 419-720-8714.

Paulding Soil and Water Conservation District, “Protecting our Water Resources,” S-17M-018, $2,792, Paulding County, Audience: Pre-School – University, Contact: Patrick J. Troyer, patrick.troyer@pauldingswcd.org, 419-399-4771.

Melissa Schultz Nature Preserve, “Environmental Education in the Melissa Schultz Nature Preserve,” S-17M-021, $5,000, Wayne County, Audience: Pre-School – University, Contact: Gregory Shaya, greg@shaya.us, 330-464-3736.

Catholic Charities of Summit County, “Camp Christopher Wetland and Pollinator Species Initiative,” S-17M-023, $5,000, Cuyahoga, Loraine, Medina, Portage and Summit Counties, Audience: Pre-School to University, Contact: Holly Bollin, habollin@ccdocle.org, 216-392-9024.

Hancock Historical Museum, “Agriculture Building Interactive Exhibit Center,” S-17M-030, $3,000, Hancock County, Audience: Pre-School to University, Contact: Sarah Sisser, ssiisser@hancockhistoricalmuseum.org, 419-423-4433.

Boardman Local School - Boardman Glenwood Junior High School, “School Cafeteria Waste Reduction Stems Community Compost Education,” F-17G-004, $16,053, Mahoning County, Audience: Pre-School-University (Grades 7-8), Contact: Laura Kibby, laura.kibby@boardmanschools.org, (330) 726-3414.

Oberlin College - Environmental Studies Program, “Pilot integration of Environmental Dashboard in Ohio: Teacher Training and Curriculum Development,” F-17G-011, $49,689, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lucas, and Summit Counties, Audience: Pre-School-University, Contact: John Petersen, jpetersen@oberlin.edu, (440) 775-6692.

Columbus Green Building Forum, “Green Energy and Sustainable Construction Technologies,” F-17G-017, $46,332, Licking County, Audience: Pre-School-University, Contact: Meera Parthasarathy, meera@cgbf.org, (614) 805-9946.

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, “Bringing Local Relevance to Climate Literacy Principles,” F-17G-020, $25,000, Cuyahoga County, Audience: Pre-School-University, Contact: DarciSanders, darci@lensc.org, (440) 471-8351.

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Metropolitan Park District of the Toledo Area, “See Yourself as a Scientist,” S-17G-037, $48,573, Lucas County, Audience: Pre-school to University, Contact: Heather Rae Norris, heather.norris@metroparkstoledo.com, (419) 461-0520.

Groundwork Cincinnati – Mill Creek, “Mill Creek Urban AgroForestry Program,” S-17G-043, $36,745, Hamilton County, Audience: Pre-school to University, Contact: Alan Edwards, alan@groundworkcincinnati.org, (513) 731-8400.

Miami County Park District, “Habitat Heroes - Hug the Pollinators!,” S-17G-048, $49,914, Miami County, Audience: Pre-school to University, Contact: Cinda Hanbuch-Pinkerton, cindahp@miamicountyparks.com, (937) 478-1036.

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Ohio Environmental Education Fund Grants for the General Public Audience

In SFY 2017, the OEEF funded 14 adult education projects for a total of $219,534.

Ohio State University - Stone Laboratory, “Communicating Water Quality Data to the Public and Students, including Charter Boat Captain Sampling,” S15G-042, $37,130, Ottawa County, General Public. Contact: Justin Chaffin, chaffin.46@osu.edu, (419) 285-1845.

Ohio Northern University – Chemistry and Biochemistry, “Blanchard River Report Card,” F-17M-003, $800, Allen, Hancock, Hardin and Putnam Counties, Audience: General Public, Contact: Christopher Spiese, c-spiese.1@onu.edu, 419-772-2365.

Kamm’s Corners Development Corporation, “Kamm’s Corners Public Parking Lot Green Infrastructure Retrofit,” F-17M-006, $5,000, Cuyahoga County, Audience: General Public, Contact: Ben Cambell, ben.cambell@kammscorners.com, 216-252-6559.

Ohio University, Department of Geography, “Stormwater to Smartphone: Digital Rain Garden Monitoring for Stormwater Education,” F-17M-009, $4,948, Athens County, Audience: General Public, Contact: Amy J. Lynch, lyncha@ohio.edu, 740-593-1100.

Washington Soil and Water Conservation District, “Soil Simulator,” S-17M-016, $5,000, Washington County, Audience: General Public, Contact: Dean Sinclair, dsinclair@wcgov.org, 740-373-4857.

Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District, “Shaping Watersheds: Augmented Reality Sandbox,” S-17M-017, $4,822, Delaware County, Audience: General Public, Contact: Dona Rhea, dona-rhea@delawareswcd.org, 740-368-1921.

Licking County Health Department, “Health and Habitats at the Licking County Health Department,” S-17M-019, $5,000, Licking County, Audience: General Public, Contact: Hilary Requejo, hrequejo@lickingcohealth.org, 740-349-6477.

Bike Miami Valley, “Bike Valet Parking,” S-17M-028, $5,000, Clark, Greene, Miami and Montgomery Counties, Audience: General Public, Contact: Emmy Fabich, emmy@bikemiamivalley.org, 937-496-3827.

Ohio University - Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, “Rain to River Education Program,” F-17G-013, $23,721, Statewide, Audience: General Public, Contact: Jen R Bowman, bowmanj2@ohio.edu, (740) 597-3101. The Toledo Zoo, “The Toledo Zoo Urban Watershed Education Initiative,” F-17G-005, $44,300, Lucas County, Audience: General Public, Contact: Ryan Patrick Walsh, ryan.walsh@toledozoo.org, (419) 385-5721.

Ohio Wetlands Association, “Ohio Vernal Pool Partnership Expansion,” S-17G-033, $ 25,200, Statewide, Audience: General Public, Contact: Raymond Stewart, ray@ohwetlands.org, (440) 225-1279.

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Green Columbus, “Neighborhood Tree Steward Program,” S-17G-045, $39,791 Franklin County, Audience: General Public, Contact: Claus Eckert, claus@greencbus.org, (614) 284-3481.

Rivers Unlimited, “Citizens' Water Quality Monitoring,” S-17G-046, $18,822, Butler and Hamilton Counties, Audience: General Public, Contact: Lisa Link, lisa.link@riversunlimited.org, (513) 324-2567.

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Ohio Environmental Education Fund Grants for the Regulated Community Audience

In SFY2016, the OEEF funded four regulated community projects for a total of $68,675.

Light on the Land Services, LLC, “Using Biochar to Recover Excess Nutrients in Dairy Wastewater,” F-17M-011, $5,000, Statewide, Audience: Regulated Community, Contact: Scott Bagley, scott@llsathens.com, 740-818-4017.

Earth Day Coalition, “Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Alternative Fuels,” F-17G-021, $42,779, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit Counties, Audience: Regulated Community, Contact: Christina Yoka, cyoka@earthdaycoalition.org, (216) 281-6468.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Ohio Clean Marinas & Clean Boater Program, “Stormwater and Wastewater Training for Ohio's Marinas,” S-17G-032, $14,628, Statewide, Audience: Regulated Community, Contact: Heather Sheets, heather.sheets@dnr.state.oh.us, (614) 582-1477.

Kent State University College of Architecture - Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, “Habitat for Hard Places,” S-17G-044, $ 6,268, Cuyahoga County, Audience: Regulated Community, Contact: Terry Schwarz, tschwarz@kent.edu, (216) 357-3426.

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Ohio Environmental Education Fund Statewide Sponsorships in SFY 2017

Ohio Academy of Science, Environmental Science and Engineering Scholarship Program, $50,000, www.ohiosci.org.

OEEF provided environmental science and engineering scholarships to twelve university students to encourage them to complete their degrees and enter professional practice in Ohio.

Students in four-year programs who received a $2,500 scholarship for 2017 include:

• Levon Bajakian, Ohio State University (Environmental Science), Ringwood, NJ• Mitchell Dever, Ashland University (Environmental Science and Biology), Ashland• Erin Graves, Miami University (Geology and Environmental Science), Bowling Green• Tara Lay, University of Cincinnati (Environmental Studies, Environmental Geology and

Biology), Cincinnati• Margaret Maloney, University of Dayton (Environmental Biology; Sustainability, Energy

and Environment), Dayton• Kateline Peck, Heidelberg University (Biology and Environmental Science), Austinburg• Victoria Roeder, Ohio State University (Zoology), North Olmsted• Andrew Shea, Ohio State University (Environment, Economy, Development and

Sustainability), Medina• Emily Smith, Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Environmental Biology), Mansfield• Chelsea Steffes, Wittenberg University (Environmental Science and Economics), Moon

Township, PA• Rosa Tweed, Wright State University (Biology and Art), West Milton• Mathias Wagner, Ohio State University (Evolution and Ecology), Cincinnati

Since the scholarship program began in 2000, $817,450 has been awarded statewide to332 students at 46 Ohio colleges and universities. Funding comes from civil penalties collected by Ohio EPA for violations of air and water pollution control laws.

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Ohio Academy of Science, State Science Day 2017, $12,600, www.ohiosci.org

OEEF presented $100 prizes to the 26 winners of the Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Environmental Protection Research at this year’s State Science Day at the Ohio State University on May 13. In addition, OEEF provided $10,000 as a title sponsor of the event, the equivalent of a state championship for student science research. The primary objective of State Science Day is to provide an opportunity for young students to demonstrate their abilities and interest in science through individual experimentation and research.

2017 Governor’s Award Winners for Excellence in Environmental Protection Research

7th Grade

First Place: Mr. Cameron Sloter, Mapleton Middle School, Ashland The Potential Health and Reproductive Effects of Backyard Burn Barrels on Drosophila

Second Place: Ms. Rosemary Kay, Immaculate Conception, Columbus Acid Rain-What a Pain!

Third Place: Mr. Timmy Joe Stoffer, East Richland Christian School, St. Clairesville The Effect of Close-Range Wifi on Seed Germination

Honorable Mention: Ms. Rayanne Mustapha, Waite High School, Toledo The Effect of REM Disturbance on Reaction Time

8th Grade

First Place: Ms. Elyse Reed, St. Edward, Ashland The Effects of Ocean Acidification on Decomposing Polyethylene

Second Place: Ms. Ayushe Nagpal, Mason Middle School, Mason Energy from Food Waste

Third Place: Ms. Nicole Lim, Sycamore High School, Cincinnati The Impact of Nanosilver Toxified Water on the Lifespan of Planarians

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Honorable Mention: Ms. Mohini Parvate, Henry Karrer Middle School, Dublin Algal Fizz: Optimal Conditions to Maximize Carbon Capture

9th Grade

First Place: Ms. Maanasa Mendu, William Mason High School, Mason Developing a Novel Aero-elastic Flutter based Energy Harvestor (AERO)

Second Place: Mr. Mukund Anand Seshadri, Dublin Coffman High School, Dublin Is Your Water Safe to Drink? A Home Test Kit to Detect Lead in Water using Colorimetric Analysis

Third Place: Ms. Willow Kenneda, Williamsburg High School, Williamsburg Effect of Nanotechnology on Daphnia

Honorable Mention: Ms. Claire Denk & Ms. Hannah Shariff, Ottawa Hills High School, Toledo How Plants Effect the Reduction of Phosphorus

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10th Grade

First Place: Mr. Bryan Rego West Geauga High School, Chesterland Ingestion of microplastic debris by perca flavescens (yellow perch) in Lake Erie: is this a problem?

Second Place: Mr. Conner P. Mullins, Hudson High School, Hudson The Effect of Aquaponics on Plants

Third Place: Mr. Travis O’Leary, Carroll High School, Dayton The Liquid Nitrogen Solution to Ocean Oil Spills

Honorable Mention: Ms. Amy Li, Carroll High School, Dayton Maximizing Bio-Electrical Production of a Microbial Fuel Cell: Choosing Best Bacteria

11th Grade

First Place: Mr. Akul Rajan, Mason High School, Mason An Organic Method of Remediation: Biochar as an amendment for different types of depleted soils

Second Place: Ms. Jordan M. Skates, Pettisville High School, Pettisville Survey of Three Different Wetlands and their Ability to Remove Excess Pollutants

Third Place: Ms. Jamie C. Bradbury, Geneva High School, Geneva Biodegradation of Plastic Using Mealworms

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Honorable Mention: Ms. Abigail Lynn Jones, Lehman Catholic High School, Sidney The Effects of P. Ostreatus on the Biosorption of Petroleum Polluted Water

12th Grade

First Place: Mr. Aaron P. Charnay & Mr. Benjamin P. Charnay, Sycamore High School, Cincinnati The Feasibility of Using Bamboo as a Source of Ethanol for Fuel

Second Place: Ms. Colleen M. Bell, Hilltop High School, West Unity Biocide vs. Bacteriophages: Biological Control in Metalworking Fluids

Third Place: Mr. Liam Lindy, Summit County Day, Cincinnati Epigenetic Effects of Car Exhaust in Drosophila Melanogaster

Honorable Mention: Ms. Madison McGuire, Glen Oak High School, Canton Can a Parabolic Mirror Power a Steam Turbine

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Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Ohio Envirothon 2016, $1,000, http://ofswcd.org/?page_id=240

OEEF sponsored the Oral Presentation Medallion at this year’s Ohio Envirothon state championship for high school teams, June 12-13 at Ohio Christian University in Circleville. The team from Crestwood High School in Mantua, Ohio won this award and the team from Chardon High School placed first in the overall competition. The Envirothon is the nation’s largest high school environmental competition, testing student knowledge of soils and land use, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues. This year’s competition theme was “Agricultural Soil and Water Conservation Stewardship.”

National Engineers Week Future City Competition, Ohio Region, $1,000, www.futurecity.org and www.futurecity.org/ohio

Oakwood Middle School of Canton took top honors at Ohio’s Future City Competition, January 14 at Columbus State Community College. Teams work with a teacher and engineer-mentor to design a city of the future, using SimCity™ software. Teams must also build a scale model of their city, write an essay and prepare an oral presentation on this year’s topic ‘The Power of Public Places.” OEEF support also helped the Oakwood team travel to Washington, DC in March to compete in the national Future City Competition.

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Ohio Chemistry Technology Foundation, $1,000, “Teachers, Industry and the Environment (TIE) Conference,” http://www.ohiochemistry.org/aws/OCTC/pt/sp/tieconference

TIE is a 2½-day professional development conference giving teachers the opportunity to experience first-hand real world environmental challenges, and to learn how they are being addressed by scientists and engineers in industry and government. Established in 1993, the conference is presented each October to a select group of 60 elementary and middle school teachers from across Ohio, each sponsored by a member company of the Ohio Chemistry Technology Council. Engineers, educators and scientists from the chemical industry and Ohio EPA present environmental science in understandable, entertaining and action-packed experiments.

Ohio Stormwater Association and Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners, “Ohio Stormwater Conference 2017,” $1,000, https://ohstormwaterconference.com/

The annual Ohio Stormwater Conference is dedicated to advance the knowledge and understanding of comprehensive storm water management for those dealing in all aspects of planning, design, implementation and regulatory compliance. The conference provides updates on environmental issues, new technologies, regulatory information and pollution prevention. The 2017 Conference in Sandusky May 10-12 attracted 800 attendees, 95 exhibitors & sponsors, and over 90 presentations on stormwater management.

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Ohio Environmental Education Fund Statewide Partnership in SFY 2017

Environmental Education Council of Ohio, $89,275

In 1995, Ohio EPA’s Office of Environmental Education initiated a long-term partnership with EECO to build statewide capacity for environmental education in ways that could not be accomplished within the confines of a short-term general grant. Through this 22 year partnership, Ohio EPA and EECO are able to provide professional development opportunities and regional resource fairs for teachers and non-formal environmental educators, as well as quality curriculum resources aligned with the Ohio Department of Education’s Learning Standards and Model Curriculum.

Environmental Career Ambassadors

For K-12 education, the partnership continues to focus on the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). In 2013 Ohio EPA and EECO joined forces with The Ohio State University School of Environment and Natural Resources to launch a new statewide network of volunteer career ambassadors in environmental science and engineering. More than 400 professionals in 68 Ohio counties have volunteered, indicating their willingness to: *Make classroom presentations*Participate in school career fairs*Host field trips*Offer internships*Offer job shadowing opportunities*Mentor young professionals, and*Recruit additional career ambassadors

This year EECO members, Ohio EPA staff members and volunteer career ambassadors spoke with 21,795 middle school, high school and college students and 4,467 teachers through career fairs and classroom presentations. For example, students learned about careers in drinking water treatment at the City of Dayton Water Department’s High School Water Career Conference, and about safely managing nuclear waste at the “Science Alliance” Career Exploration Day at the Fluor-BWXT Gaseous Diffusion facility near Portsmouth. The partners and volunteer ambassadors also mentored 16 high school students, offered 143 high school and college internships and two shadowing opportunities to allow students to observe environmental professionals at work. Recruitment presentations and exhibits were offered at events reaching 823 environmental professionals.

Part-time regional directors work closely with educators at the local level to offer workshops and share teaching resources. This year the partners offered 38 regional professional development workshops to 902 educators, offering teachers certification in nationally recognized curricula such as the Leopold Education Project; Project Learning Tree; Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) and Healthy Water, Healthy People; Project WILD, Project WILD Aquatic, Flying WILD, and WILD School Sites; Windows on Waste, and the Wonders of Wetlands. The partners also exhibited or presented at 11 special events, festivals and conferences with more than 8,000 participants.

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