Glacier Institute needs help for $50,000 grant

The Glacier Institute has a shot at winning a $50,000 grant to create an alternative energy facility and classroom at its Big Creek Outdoor Education Center up the North Fork, but it needs people to “like” the project on Facebook.

The grant opportunity is provided by the Tom’s of Maine “50 States for Good” program. The Glacier Institute project is one of 50 finalists chosen from across the U.S. and the only finalist from Montana. The top project will receive a $50,000 grant, and five others will receive $20,000 grants.

In partnership with Sunelco. Inc., the idea is to build a solar and a wind energy power system for Big Creek, which is off the grid. The Big Creek facility currently uses propane generators for electricity, Institute executive director Joyce Baltz said.

The alternative energy would complement the propane system, Baltz said. More importantly, it would become part of the curriculum at Big Creek.

The field camp there has seen more than 26,000 students since it was founded 29 years ago. Classes at Big Creek range from fisheries to forests.

“The goal is to teach people about alternative energy and get people involved,” Baltz said last week. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Local residents and former and current Big Creek students can help with a simple click of a mouse by voting at www.Facebook.com/TomsofMaine starting now through Oct. 9.

For more information, visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org or call 755-1211.