The Genesee Finger Lakes Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association is dedicated to enhancing environmental education opportunities of the greater Finger Lakes area. With the help of your donations, sponsorships, and memberships, we are able to contribute to the following causes:
GFLAWMA is pleased to announce its Earth Day Grant Program is happening again in honor of Earth Day 2023. See below for this year's winners!
Congratulations to our 2023 Earth Day Grant Winners!
We received 13 applications this year from groups across six counties - such a wide variety of applicants and projects. Our sincere thanks to each organization that took the time to apply. We appreciate what you do for our community. Read on to learn about our 4 winners - and check back throughout the year to hear updates on their projects.
Less in the Landfill
Organization Name: Marcus Whitman Envirothon Club
Summary: Members of the Envirothon Club at Marcus Whitman will educate teachers and students at the elementary school about waste management. They will teach the teachers and students waste, recycling and composting. The project will fund purchase of a three bin system (waste, recycling and compost) and a small teracycle box (for wrappers).
Farm to Table Fresh
Organization Name: University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men
Summary: This project will enable UPrep Living Environment Students to collaborate with the UPrep Culinary Program to establish a fruit and vegetable garden that will be used within the food preparation process at the school. As the majority of UPrep's students live within the limits of the City of Rochester; essentially a Food Desert, this collaborative will participate in lessons on "living organisms", ecosystems, soil health and composting, recycling etc. Students will also learn the importance of knowing exactly what goes into the food that they consume and how they can participate to ensure that the fruits and/or vegetables that they consume are grown in the "best" environment and of the healthiest quality for them and their family. The long-term student’s outcome would be for students to start and maintain their own "family gardens."
Rainwater Collection System and Signage
Organization Name: Keuka College (Jephson Science Building)
Summary: The Environmental Science program at Keuka College created an organic vegetable garden with a mission to engage students in sustainability through composting and maximizing limited space. The grant would be utilized to install a rainwater collection system to facilitate maintenance of the garden. The three-prong system of composting, vegetable gardening, and rainwater collection would provide students the opportunity to understand the mechanics of sustainable living and the responsible use of resources. Collected rainwater would minimize reliance on the potable water system. A rain barrel kiosk would be constructed from an elevated wooden stand/platform, rain barrel, and metal roof. Educational signage would be incorporated into the design and construction would be completed by students.
Purple Martin Housing
Organization Name: Braddock Bay Bird Observatory
Summary: The observatory serves as an avian education and conservation center in our community. The project involves purchasing and installing housing for Purple Martins which nest in colonies. These boxes, in addition to attracting a colony for habitation, will be a focal point on their new (future annual) class to teach proper nestbox stewardship.
Thank you to the Education Committee for reviewing the applications and to the Board/Members for continuing to fund this exciting grant opportunity.
DEC Summer Camp Sponsorship Program
The Genesee Finger Lakes Chapter Education Committee has instituted a program through which the chapter will sponsor local children to attend the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (“NYSDEC”) Environmental Education Summer Camp Program. The AWMA sponsorships are open to children who will be between the ages of 11 and 17 at the time of the Summer Camp.
We are pleased to report that the chapter is hoping to sponsor two students to attend camp this summer pending camp registration availability
NEW this year!
We are excited to announce a new opportunity this year to sponsor two students at one of the summer camps hosted by Wild Wings Bird of Prey Facility and Nature Center.
Check out the wonderful work they do at their website: Wild Wings, Inc.
Outstanding Environmental Management Student Award
The Genesee Finger Lakes Chapter of AWMA and NYWEA have maintained a decades-long partnership to support eligible students enrolled in Rochester Institute of Technology’s Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety (CETEMS). Award recipients are selected through an application process in conjunction with CETEMS and the awards are funded by proceeds from the Annual GFL AWMA and NYWEA Joint Environmental Seminar held in the spring.
We are proud to collaborate with RIT faculty and students to help foster better understanding of the environmental, health, safety and sustainability issues in our community.
GFL A&WMA has also provided grants to other environmental education related organizations on an ad hoc basis. If you wish to inquire, please email David Hanny, Education Committee Chair, Dhanny@bartonandloguidice.com.