Loon Echo Land Trust recently awarded environmental education grants to local libraries and schools to help children learn about ecology and the environment.

Grants were awarded on Feb. 15 to the Bridgton Public Library, Casco Public Library, Harrison Elementary, Lake Region Middle School, Naples Public Library, Sebago Elementary, Raymond Elementary, and Raymond Village Library.

Every year schools and libraries in Denmark, Bridgton, Harrison, Naples, Sebago, Casco, and Raymond are invited to submit grant applications to Loon Echo Land Trust for environmental programs.

This year the land trust received an interesting request from the Lake Region Middle School’s Andrea Capano for a new trail project meant to harness the students’ ingenuity to create an interpretive trail.

“In the true sense of service learning this project will allow students to conduct a meaningful, cooperative and community based effort. This effort will not only benefit the current students, faculty and staff of the Lake Region School District but will also benefit the community as a whole and will continue to do so far into the future,” said Capano.

Funds for these grants were made available through the Helen Allen and Polly Bartlett Endowment, funds bequeathed to Loon Echo by these two caring educators.

Loon Echo Land Trust, located in Bridgton, is a non-profit organization that relies on the support and generosity of public and private contributions to conserve and protect land for future generations to enjoy.

Please contact Loon Echo at 647-4352 or info@lelt.org with questions about the grant program or land protection efforts.