School District Wins Environmental Grant

Capistrano Unified School District has won a $15,000 grant to conduct environmental education projects.

The district is one of 13 in California and the only one in Orange County to receive the grant, announced this week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Capistrano Unified will use the money to create an environmental center in a canyon next to Dana Hills High School in Dana Point.

The facility and trail system proposed for the site, which has natural brush and foliage, will offer students opportunities for field trips to study plant and animal life, school officials said. It will also provide career training for high school students who will manage the center and act as docents.

“The kids are so excited,” said Kay Rager, Dana Hills principal.

The EPA grants are being awarded for the fifth year to organizations in support of environmentally oriented educational programs. Each of 10 regions across the nation will get $150,000 to be shared by award winners.

Each organization that receives an EPA grant will contribute matching funds to its own program, officials said.

Capistrano Unified’s region includes California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.

Among other Southern California winners are San Diego State University, the Venice-based Save the Whales organization and the American Lung Assn. in San Diego.