Ellen Lea Paine Memorial Nature Fund
The Adirondack Garden Club Ellen Lea Paine Memorial Nature Fund was established in 2005 to give financial assistance to individuals and not-for-profit organizations involved in programs whose purpose is to study, protect and enjoy the natural environment within the Adirondack Park. Here are 2020’s awardees:
Champlain Area Trails
CATS maintains approximately 60 miles of trails, many of which traverse through grassy meadows and require weekly maintenance during the summer. This grant will provide them with a Self Propelled Walk Behind Trimmer Mower, batteries for current DR battery-operated mowers, and trimmer cord.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County
CCE Educators will hold two classes on Food Preservation with an emphasis on preserving/extending our Adirondack harvest. During the recent Corona Virus “Pause” many people spent more time in their homes and the interest in baking & cooking has increased. An interest in local produce has also increased.
Crown Point Central School
Students of the Third Grade Class will create a Birds and Blooms garden at the school. They will each do a research project on an Adirondack bird, native to their habitat. They will present the needs of their birds and the blooms which attract them. An “Informational Bird Fair” will follow with information boards about the birds. This will also include the “blooms” that attract them. A master plan for a birds and blooms garden will also be created. With help from the technology dept., and after school program, birdhouses will be built, flowers planted and a watering station established.
Exploring Nature Educational Resource
Working with a group of local artists and educators on a community project to provide AuSable Forks Elementary students (Grades 1&2) with summer enrichment resources during the COVID pandemic. Art and Discovery Kits for Kids will be created that will include locally sourced activities and art supplies to do educational projects at no cost to the families. This template can then be expanded to include A & D kits to other schools in the area and materials for other grade levels.
Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm
Lakeside School cultivates the whole child in an evolving ecosystem of independent thinking, community spirit, and stewardship of our natural world. Because the school had to close during “COVID” they will re-open June 29 to host two Summer Sprouts programs. As a result, each day that the summer programs are in session cleaning and disinfecting of all indoor areas and items used will be needed. This grant will pay the staff for their work.
Protect the Adirondacks
Dedicated to the preservation and stewardship of the Adirondack Park. This summer PROTECT will be implementing the “Adirondack Forest Preserve Public Use Education and Dispersal Project”. Interns will hike and document trail routes and photograph trails and scenic vistas, in addition to cataloging canoe routes and paddling opportunities. This information will be used to draft and organize trail narratives that will ultimately be published in an online guidebook available to the public.
Ticonderoga Central School Garden
This is the 2nd year of the garden and the grant money will go towards the expansion, maintenance, and sustaining of the 2-year-old garden by the purchase of mulch and soil, vegetable/herb plants, watering equipment, and additional gardening tools. It will also make possible the exploration of the garden for students with disabilities.
Students will develop life skills and improve classroom behavior by learning to work together and being responsible gardeners. This inclusive activity will raise the self-esteem of the students who do not see success in the classroom. Produce from the garden will be used in the school cafeteria, a vegetable stand at the local street fest, and the local backpack program which provides food for the weekend to those below the Federal Poverty level.