PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY

THE EPHRATA AREA EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Venture Grant Program

CHECK OUT THE 2010-2011 VENTURE GRANT WINNERS! Click here for a complete list of 2010-2011 Venture Grant winners

The Ephrata Area Education Foundation Venture Grant Program is designed to enhance and enrich the educational experiences for our students through the provision of grants to individual teachers, groups of teachers, departments, and other professional employees. The grants, worth up to $1,000 each, support creative and innovative programs that typically are not funded through the regular school budget.  A minimum of ten grants are awarded annually through the program, given the availability of funds.

Applications for the 2011-2012 school year will be distributed in January 2011. The application process is open to all Ephrata Area School District teachers and staff, and we are seeking many eager applicants who have ideas for innovative and meaningful educational projects. As your minds begin to ponder ideas, please try to address the following three criteria for any projects:

• Projects that are innovative beyond the current curriculum
• Projects that encourage advanced and enriched learning
• Projects that add value to the curriculum

The Ephrata Area Education Foundation and Alumni Research, Inc. have compile the most comprehensive directory of Ephrata High School graduates ever published. Those who purchased hard-bound copies should have received them by April 2010. Please call (800) 325-8664 if you ordered a directory but have not received it.

You can update your contact information by visiting the Ephrata High School website Online Alumni Community.

Outdoor Learning Center
The Outdoor Learning Center was launched in the spring of 2003 to provide innovative, real life experiences to learners in collaboration with community and industry. The Center helps prepare students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in agriculture, science, food, fiber, and natural resource systems. Situated within more than sixty acres of farmland on Hummer Street in Ephrata Township, the Outdoor Learning Center was designed to offer hands-on educational experience for students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade. The program demonstrates a commitment to the agricultural, natural, and environmental sciences. The Outdoor Learning Center provides lessons to students of all ages in chemistry, biology, environmental sciences, genetics, agriculture, mathematics, and much more. 

Some current projects at the District Farm include a greenhouse, experimental land plots, and Supervised Agricultural Experiences. There are plans to expand our curriculum efforts across the entire school district, particularly in agriculture. We hope to look at these future Outdoor Learning Center projects that include:  

• Turf science study

• Animal science

• An astronomy site with telescope

• Plots for science fair projects

• Succession plots

• Plots for wetland and watershed use

Alternative Education
Alternative education means providing students opportunities to learn outside of the traditional classroom atmosphere.  EASD currently operates the Washington Educational Center (WEC), which allows students the option of attending school for fewer hours a day via computer classes monitored by a qualified teaching staff. This no-frills education allows students to finish their required credits at their own pace. The Foundation will support the efforts of the Ephrata Area School District to continue to research and explore new and beneficial ways to support student learning through alternative methods. One new option is Blended Schools, which offers a complete K-12 online core curriculum created by Pennsylvania teachers and aligned to national and state academic standards.