Entergy shines light on conservation education with grant to AGFC School of Conservation Leadership 

LITTLE ROCK — Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Entergy Charitable Foundation, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s School of Conservation Leadership program is positioned to bring free outdoor education to Arkansas classrooms that’s both entertaining and in compliance with state teaching standards.

“We are honored to receive this grant in partnership with Entergy and the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation to create a foundation for success through conservation education in Arkansas,” Mary Beth Hatch, AGFC Chief of Education, said. “This grant will allow the AGFC Education Division to provide resources, equipment and funding to schools that earn the AGFC School of Conservation Leadership Designation,”

The School of Conservation Leadership designation is reserved for those schools that participate in the many outdoor education programs offered through the AGFC. Teachers and students can visit hatcheries or nature centers, become members of the Arkansas Stream Team Program, develop an Archery in the Schools program or choose a variety of other outdoor education offerings from the AGFC.

“For more than a century, Entergy Arkansas has been committed to delivering safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable electric utility service to what now encompasses more than 730,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across our 63-county service territory,” said Brand Hinkle, senior public affairs representative. “However, we see value extending beyond just powering homes and businesses – it extends to strengthening the communities we serve. One of our key priorities is investing in local solutions that attack the root causes of poverty, support education and workforce development, and protect and preserve the environment.”

According to Hinkle,  the grant award to AGFF is based on the organization’s alignment with the Entergy Charitable Foundation’s philanthropic focus on sustaining families with poverty solutions, education and workforce opportunities and environmental stewardship.

According to Hatch, the money will be used to help provide resources and materials to classrooms to complete educational programs such as field experiences and in-classroom exposure to outdoor skills and nature-based learning.

“This will ensure that these honored schools can carry out the mission of conservation education as an integrated part of their daily commitment to educating students in Arkansas,” Hatch said.

Entergy Charitable Foundation grants are provided solely from shareholder profit and not Entergy Arkansas customer dollars. For more information, visit www.entergy.com/csr/giving.

Visit www.agfc.com/education/school-of-conservation-leadership to learn more about earning the School of Conservation Leadership designation from the AGFC.

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CUTLINE:
Fishing derbies are one of many class experiences available for Arkansas schools that build support for a School of Conservation Leadership designation. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.