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Mar 28, 2024 - Thu
Bolton United States
Wind 1 m/s, NNW
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46/35°F
Mar 28, 2024 - Thu
Bolton United States
Wind 1 m/s, NNW
Pressure 762.82 mmHg
39°F
overcast clouds
Humidity 96%
Clouds 100%
thu03/28 fri03/29 sat03/30 sun03/31 mon04/01
43/37°F
44/35°F
45/36°F
44/33°F
46/35°F

EPA Honors LGA’s Floating Classroom

The Lake George Association has been honored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which has named the organization this year’s recipient of an Environmental Quality Award for its Floating Classroom.

The Environmental Quality Award, the agency’s highest, was presented to LGA chairman, Victor Hershaft, Outreach coordinator Emily DeBolt and Education Coordinator Kristen Rohne by the EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck at a ceremony at the agency’s New York City headquarters on April 23.

“Today we celebrate the exemplary work of people who work tirelessly to protect the environment and give their time and energy to create a cleaner and healthier future for us all,” said Enck. “Their extraordinary contributions serve as an inspiration to all who strive for a more sustainable environmental future.”

The Floating Classroom was created in the early 1990s to provide local students with a direct, hands-on experience with lake ecology and the importance of stewardship. 

With the help of Bruce Ashby, a Bolton Landing resident and a member of the LGA’s board, a new boat was purchased in 2009, permitting the program to expand to include trips for residents and visitors during the summer months.

More than 21,000 people have taken classes through the program since 1997, the LGA stated.

“Every year, we revise the program to keep it fresh and consistent with changing school standards.  This year, we have six straight weeks of field trips scheduled for fourteen schools and more than 900 students. It will be our busiest year yet,” said Kristen Rohne. 

“We were honored to have been given this year’s Environmental Quality Award by the EPA,” said Walt Lender, the LGA’s executive director. “We are lucky to have such an amazing resource right here in our own backyard.  Creating the next generation of stewards through our Floating Classroom program is a privilege.”