Bank presents $35,000 grant
Funds will facilitate environmental programs for 3 schools

LANESBOROUGH - It's a question commonly asked in schools: "When am I ever going to use this in real life?"

This fall, a new environmental science program will be piloted in three local schools with the purpose of giving kids answers to that question.

"In looking at reducing our impact on the environment, we've realized the importance in working with young people. That's where it's mostly going to make a difference," said Nancy Nylen, associate director of the Center for Ecological Technology.

The CET, a leading partner of the initiative, was awarded a $35,000 grant from Berkshire Bank yesterday morning during a press conference held in the Lanesborough Elementary School courtyard.

The funding establishes what will be known as The Berkshire Bank's Berkshire Environmental School Teams (BEST) project.

Beginning this fall, three BEST programs will be piloted at Conte Middle School in North Adams, Lanesborough Elementary School and Muddy Brook Elementary School in Great Barrington.

CET will work with school teams of staff and teachers to incorporate a comprehensive environmental program that aligns with the state curriculum frameworks for mathematics, science and technology.

"The problems in the environment today are the ones that we created and are problems for future generations to come," said Michael Daly, president and chief executive officer of Berkshire Bank.

"With this, we're going to help young people help themselves," he said.

Berkshire Bank President and CEO Michael Daly speaks to a group gathered in the courtyard of Lanesborough Elementary School. The bank issued a $35,000 grant to the Center for Ecological Technology. (Photo by Darren Vanden Berge / Berkshire Eagle Staff)

Lanesborough Principal Ellen Bosche agreed: "The students will become the teachers."

Though the Lanesborough BEST program will focus on next year's sixth-graders, several members of the current Grade 6 class were on-hand to talk about the effects of an environmental education.

This year, their teacher, Rob Bradley, screened the global warming film "An Inconvenient Truth," which, the students said, inspired them to start a new environmental club.

"We got into global warming and saw that you have to care and help our world," Cody Richardson.

He and the rest of the environmental club felt that the new program will help other students carry on such initiatives as recycling, and creating energy efficiency and renewable energy programs for schools, which they also hope to bring into the community.

The CET will also have the chance to renew the grant for a second and third year.

"If the other kids are like us, they'll have the care and the compassion to do something and keep these programs running," said Bradon Richardson.

His classmate Lindsey Wick agreed.

"We will be living in this world and taking care of it for a long time," she said.