Ohio River Foundation Receives $26K Grant from the Honda USA Foundation to Support Education Programs

Organization announces job opening for part-time education program coordinator to be based in Columbus

Ohio River Foundation (ORF) a Cincinnati-based nonprofit with successful programs dedicated to protecting and improving the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River and its watershed, is pleased to announce it has received a $26,000 grant from the Honda USA Foundation to support ORF’s popular Mussels in the Classroom and River Explorer educational programs in Columbus, Ohio.

“Along with improving academic STEM skills, our hands-on educational programs help kids foster a lifetime interest in protecting the environment in their communities and beyond,” said ORF executive director Rich Cogen. “This very generous grant will help ORF continue to grow these programs so more children can have access to these impactful educational opportunities.”

Mussels in the Classroom brings live freshwater mussels into schools. The program is designed to help students better understand the complexity of aquatic environments. It’s also an important step in educating them about these overlooked species. Freshwater mussels are our rivers’ natural filters, constantly straining the water and removing particles which they consume as food, leaving the water cleaner. They are long-lived, slow growing, and move very little during their lives, serving as excellent indicators of aquatic health.

River Explorer is designed to help children learn about the ecology and importance of the Ohio River, its tributaries, and its watershed. Using nets, live specimens and field-grade equipment, students are junior scientists for the day during this exciting learning experience. Classes are taught in and along the rivers, streams and creeks in the watershed in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

Additionally, ORF is searching for a part-time education program coordinator in Columbus to develop, train and manage ORF’s field education team, conduct field trips and in-classroom educational experiences, and work to facilitate school participation in the Columbus region. For more details or to apply, visit https://adobe.ly/3z8zrPV.

For more information about ORF educational programs, visit https://ohioriverfdn.org/what-we-do/education-programs/.

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