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HOW WE GOT STARTED

   Eastern Kern County Resource Conservation District received a National Environmental Education and Training Foundation (NEETF) grant of $7,000 and raised $7,000 in Challenge Funds from community groups to establish the Sand Canyon Environmental Education Program (SEEP) in Ridgecrest California for the 1994/95 school year. This represents the first environmental education program for the local area and is important because the area is somewhat isolated and the closest environmental program currently available is about two hours away. The NEETF grant was one of 30 awarded nationwide for the Fall 1994 grant cycle. Only two were awarded in California.

   The SEEP grant program is based on a progressive partnership between the Bureau of Land Management, the Maturango Museum, the Sierra Sands Unified School District and the Eastern Kern County Resource Conservation District. The Resource Conservation District is administering the grant, and is coordinating the fundraising efforts and the volunteer recruitment for the program. Over 16 agencies, businesses and local groups or clubs contributed $7,000 in Challenge Funds with contributions ranging from individual donations of $25 to agency or business support of $1,000 from the Indian Wells Valley Water District, U.S. Borax, Inc., and North American Chemical Corporation. During the seven field trips to the canyon, and the pre-site and post-site classroom visits conducted March through May 1995, over 1,000 volunteer hours were contributed by 14 groups in the community. Volunteers came from the Bureau of Land Management, the Audubon Society, the California Native Plant Society, East Kern County Resource Conservation District, the Maturango Museum, local artists, the China Lake Fire Division, Liberty Ambulance, the Historical Society and Cerro Coso Community College to name a few.

   The grant made it possible for about 800 sixth grade students from all public, private and home study schools to visit Sand Canyon, a unique desert riparian area, to study plants, animals water and the desert environment. The outdoor classroom provided plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning activities during the full-day field trips.

 

Giving Back to the Community: Equipment such as microscopes, spotting scopes, binoculars, hand lenses, field guides, and first aid kits are available at the Maturango Museum to be checked out by Scouts, families, teachers, and other members of the community.

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