REC receives grant for Root River Renaissance

Opening of REC for 2012 aided by WEEB.

When the Root River Environmental Education Community Center (REC) opened for its fifth summer season, there was one of those enormous checks on display. The check paid to the order of the REC in the amount of $10,000 from the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB).

The grant is funding REC's "Root River Renaissance: A Community Partnership to Spark Environmental Education and Awareness." The grant enhances learning and community development opportunities through student internships, a weekly environmental education program series held Thursday afternoons starting in July, and hillside restoration research led by UW-Parkside Geography Professor Dr. Joy Wolf.

WEEB promotes environmental education (EE) programs in all segments of society to help Wisconsin residents enhance their personal and collective earth knowledge and skills. According to the board, more than 650 Wisconsin organizations are engaged in environmental education.

The REC opened Friday, May 18, with the Paddle with the Provost event hosted by UW-Parkside Provost Terry Brown. The program featured Racine Mayor John Dickert, Wisconsin State Rep. Cory Mason, and students from 21st Century Prep School. In addition to cutting the ribbon to open the facility, the event included a one-hour river trip and a discussion on making the REC more a part of Racine's community life.

Located at 1301 W. 6th St., the REC exists to increase environment education opportunities for students and to increase the amount of time community members spend in and around the ecosystems of the Root River and Lake Michigan. REC summer hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Inexpensive canoe, and kayak rentals are available and the use of fishing gear is free.

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ABOUT THIS STORY:

Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 5/24/2012

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