South Carolina Future Minds, Innovation for Public Education

SEABROOK – The LowCountry Institute has been awarded a $2,000 Champions of the Environment grant for a project to be carried out in partnership with Whale Branch Middle School in Beaufort County. 

 

The project – Habitat Enhancement for Native Birds – will address loss of habitat, one of the main factors contributing to the decline of native bird populations, according to Kristen Mattson, an environmental educator with the institute.

 

“In an area of the state where wildlife habitats are under increasing pressure from development, it’s great that students can help conserve native bird populations by ensuring adequate shelter, nesting space, food and water,” said Champions of the Environment coordinator Lynne LaSalle.

 

LaSalle said the LowCountry Institute staff will work with teachers and middle school students to place native plants that will provide birds with food and nesting materials.  Students will also build and place birdhouses and bird feeders on the middle school campus.

 

In addition to the grant, these Champions will receive other rewards including a feature on the Champions’ Web site and a commercial about the project to be aired on WIS-TV in Columbia and WCSC-TV in Charleston.

 

Champions of the Environment supports environmental action by South Carolina’s kindergarten through 12th grade students.  It’s sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Eastman Chemical Company, International Paper, WCSC and WIS, with assistance from the Environmental Education Association of South Carolina.