Rockfall Foundation awards grants to 14 schools, nonprofits

MIDDLETOWN — The Rockfall Foundation has awarded $50,000 for environmental projects and programs, the largest grant award since inception its grants program. The funds will benefit environmental education, planning, and preservation efforts by fourteen nonprofit organizations and schools in the Lower Connecticut River Valley.

In addition to the annual environmental grants, this year’s awards include multi-year Fostering Future Environmental Stewards grants, designed to support continuity of educational programming at elementary and middle schools, according to a press release. The grant recipients include five schools, three nature and gardening education programs — ranging from preschool to adult — four projects that support conservation efforts in the Connecticut River watershed and statewide, plus projects on climate change and a meditation garden.

Cumulatively, The Rockfall Foundation has awarded over $580,000 since

Cumulatively, The Rockfall Foundation has awarded over $580,000 since establishing its grant program. The foundation is celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2020 and is one of Connecticut’s oldest environmental organizations.

establishing its grant program. The foundation is celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2020 and is one of Connecticut’s oldest environmental organizations, the agency said.

Recipients for 2020 are: Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek for the Syd and Bernie Slater Meditation Garden, Connecticut Land Conservation Council for Tools to Spread the Word About Land Trusts and Conservation, Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District for workshops for citizens interested in serving on inland wetlands commissions, Connecticut River Conservancy for a plan to address tire waste in the CT River and European Water Chestnut Management in the CT River, Everyone Outside for nature-based playgroups, preschool and family and adult programs

Also, Middlesex Health for the Opportunity Knocks Nature & Eating Healthy with Preschool Gardens program, Old Saybrook High School for the Bird Ecology in the CT River Estuary Program, University of Connecticut for an Adapt CT Climate Resilience Internship, and Valley Shore YMCA for the Farm to Table Camp. Recipients for Fostering Future Environmental Stewards are: Chester Elementary School for the Science-in-Residence program, Independent Day School for the Love Your Earth Summer Program, Macdonough Elementary School for field trips into nature, and Old Saybrook Middle School for the Schoolyard Biodiversity Study.

For information, visit rockfallfoundation.org or call 860-347-0340.

Contributed photo From left are Amanda Kenyon, Rockfall Foundation grants and communications coordinator; Amy Blaymore Paterson, Connecticut Land Conservation Council executive director; and Tony Marino, Rockfall Foundation executive director. They show off a $4,350 donation check.