By Staff report
May 25, 2019
Among the largest awards were Norwich Recreation Department’s Summer Camp program at $12,000. The city’s school Summer Learning program received $11,000 while the Connecticut Aububon Society received $12,064 for its Science in Nature program.
“What pulls the children in? The birds,” said Sarah Hemingway, director of regional programs at the Connecticut Audubon Society, said, according to a press release.
Connecticut Audubon is providing hands-on, curriculum-linked experiences for all Norwich third-graders through its Science in Nature program. According to Hemingway, the best part is getting the children outside.
In addition to the academic benefits of the program, she notices a visible difference in the students when they are out on a nature hike, observing that, “They can’t argue with nature, they can’t control it, so they have to just be in it and let it be.”
Since 2011, almost $1.2 million has been awarded through 150 grants aimed at the well-being of Norwich youth thanks to the generosity of donors who created funds for the benefit of the Norwich area, including the Grace & Lewis Sears Memorial Fund and the Frisbee-Chapman Memorial Fund.
2019 Norwich Youth Grants
Children’s Museum of Southeastern CT;$10,500
Norwich Recreation Dept.;$12,000
CT Aubudon Society;$12,064
Denison Nature Center;$12,000
Eastern CT Orchestra;$6,000
Girl Scouts;$2,500
High Hopes Riding;$5,000
LifeFAQs;$6,000
Madonna Place;$8,000
NESS;$10,000
Norwich Public Schools;$11,000
Norwich Youth Services;$10,000
Nutmeg Big Brothers/Sisters;$12,000
Ocean Community YMCA;$15,000
Project Oceanology;$10,000
Robertsine Duncan Youth Council;$1,800
S.T.E.P.S.;$5,000
Safe Futures;$10,000
Salt Marsh Opera;$4,000
Sankofa Education;$2,500
Sea Research Foundation;$10,000
Thames River Community Service;$8,000
Total;$183,364