Rep. Bud Cook announced on May 1 that two school districts in the 50th Legislative District have received nearly $35,000 in grants to support hands-on environmental education and sustainability learning.
The grants aim to provide students with practical skills and real-world experience in science and sustainability. California Area School District was awarded $29,823 for a project titled “Teaching Sustainability Through Honeybee Behavior and Genetics.” This initiative will include nine monthly workshops on honeybee science and environmental education, involving three partner districts. Charleroi Area School District received $5,000 for its “Edible Learning Lab,” which will convert a small greenhouse into a year-round facility where students can learn about plant science, hydroponics, and sustainable farming.
“Our students are the future, and projects like this give them the chance to learn skills that will last a lifetime,” Cook said. “We’re glad to see these grants supporting hands on learning right here in the 50th District.”
The funding comes from the Environmental Education Grants Program, which was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993. The program dedicates five percent of pollution fines collected by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to environmental education initiatives.
Cook leads the ‘Come Home, Go Big and Have a Ball’ initiative to draw residents to the southwest region according to the official website. He serves as Republican secretary to the Agriculture Committee and chairs the Republican Subcommittee on Marketing within the Tourism Committee according to his official website. Cook represents Greene and Washington counties according to his official website, serves on several committees including Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Environmental Resources and Energy; Tourism; Economic; and Recreational Development according to his official website. He holds office as Pennsylvania State Representative for the 50th Legislative District according to his official website.
Cook also operates as a self-employed business owner with more than thirty years of experience in job creation according to his official website.
