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PROGRAM TITLE: Environmental Learning Key (E.L.K.) <br />PROGRAM GOALS: Establish, utilizing citizens of all ages, an environmental education <br />program and site which promotes: diverse out-of-classroorn experiences, research, recognition <br />of native ecosystems and landstewardship through preservation and restoration. Specific topics <br />are: <br />A. Developing School and Community Environmental Education Programs`* <br />B. Developing Environmental Education Sites" <br />C. Establishing Environmental Education Access and Facilities" <br />D. Educating Teachers About Environmental Education <br />E. Establishing a Youth Environmental Education Delivery System <br />F. Restore Native Vegetation of the Elk River Area <br />More detailed description of the program goals is found under the heading "Program Objectives." <br />** Program goals which I would like the City of Elk River to support. <br />RATIONALE: No environmental education sites exist in the Elk River Community or in <br />Sherburne County. However, the projected population growth of the region is the highest in the <br />state of Minnesota. Anticipated population increase is 72% by the year 2020. Therefore, it is <br />critical that we take steps now to educate the community about: native ecosystems, native <br />species, biodiversity, landstewardship and other current environmental issues. It is also <br />critical that we make every effort to preserve threatened ecosystems and encourage restoration <br />and management of natural ecosystems. Surveys of students and community members have <br />indicated that our community knows very little about the past native ecosystems of the areal <br />People of all ages would have an increased appreciation of the natural ecosystems of the area if <br />they could experience them first hand in an active and inquiry orientated setting. <br />DESIRED FUNDING SOURCES: <br />1. Grant from the LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON MINNESOTA RESOURCES (LCMR) <br />2. Funding form the CITY OF ELK RIVER" <br />3. Funding from INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #728'* <br />4. Funding from SHERBURNE COUNTY" <br />5. Funding from PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS`* <br />** A CASH MATCH IN FUNDING WILL RECEIVE HIGHER PRIORITY THEN GRANTS <br />WITH NO CASH MATCHING. <br />SPECIFIC USE OF FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF ELK RIVER: <br />1. Develop an Environmental Education Site and Facility in the Woodland Trails City Park. <br />2. Support a Community Environmental Education Program. <br />3. Develop future Environmental Education Sites on Naturally Significant Areas. <br />Estimated cost of the three activities is approximately $150,000 to $270,000 (The large <br />range of values is due to the uncertainty of the availability of naturally significant areas which <br />may be purchased through grant funding). The greater the contribution by the City of Elk River <br />the greater the chance that we could obtain a significant grant to improve our communityl <br />