Empowering Southeast Ohio through Environmental Education
afterschool
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Outline for today Introductions Rural Actions EE Program: BEEPs
Environmental literacy Sense of place Trimble Outdoor Club Group
initiatives Sharing resources: lessons/take homes
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Rural Action Economic and environmental justice in Appalachian
Ohio; building a new and sustainable economy Sustainable
Agriculture and Forestry Zero Waste Initiative Watershed
Restoration Environmental Education RAs strategy and programs
require environmental literacy
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Sense of Place Quiz What place(s) do you know well? How is has
nature played a role in your life growing up? Place-names? What do
you remember from being outside during your childhood? EE programs?
Camps? Where does your drinking water come from? Where does your
trash go? When you flush the toilet, where does it end up? What is
one source of local food?
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Sense of Place Quiz What is one geologic force that has
significantly shaped Southeast Ohio? What watershed do you live in
(when it rains, where does the water flow)? Name 5 native species
of trees. Name an endangered species that lives and breeds in Ohio.
What is one species that was extirpated but has returned to Ohio?
Tell me something about Ohios first people. What are the frost-free
dates for this area? Name one insect and one bird that migrate
through Ohio.
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Trimble Middle School Outdoor Club: Who we are 6 th -8 th
graders who choose to spend a few hours every other Wednesday
afterschool planning outdoor adventures with a purpose. Chrissy
Sharp teaches 7 th /8 th grade science, Appalachian Green
Teacher
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Purpose Sense of place : exploring assets, natural history,
culture ( biodiversity, natural resources, acid mine drainage)
Nurture significance, competence, power, virtue by being actively
aware of relationship to natural world and community. Seasonally
appropriate lessons: visits to Trimble Township Community Forest
stream studies, visiting local businesses/schools-career
connections, exploring local food webs, park clean- ups, trail
maintenance.
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It takes a village... Teachers and parents CFI( Community Food
Initiatives) Hocking College Ohio University: Kids on Campus BBBS
Camp OtyOkwa
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Environmental Literacy (NEEF 2005) About 80% of Americans are
heavily inuenced by incorrect or outdated environmental myths What
are some myths? Just 12% of Americans can pass a basic quiz on
awareness of energy topics 45 million Americans think the ocean is
a source of fresh water 120 million people think disposable diapers
are the leading problem with landlls when they actually represent
about 1% of the problem 130 million believe that hydropower is
America's top energy source, when it accounts for just 10% of the
total
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Environmental Literacy (NEEF 2005) Children get more
environmental information (83%) from the media than from any other
source. For most adults, the media is the only steady source of
environmental information There is little difference in
environmental knowledge levels between the average American and
those who sit on governing bodies, town councils, and in corporate
board rooms
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Environmental Literacy (NEEF 2005) Environmentally
knowledgeable people are: 10% more likely to save energy in the
home 50% more likely to recycle 10% more likely to purchase
environmentally safe products 31% more likely to conserve water
Twice as likely to donate funds to conservation.
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Impacting Environmental Literacy How do you do it? Look Dont
Touch in Orion Magazine Participation in EE programs not a good
indicator Childhood time in the outdoors IS BEEPs (Best EE
Practices) Engage multiple senses Foster creativity and inquiry
Work with same kids more than once Integrate environmental issues
into classes (relevance!) Group worksocial and civic skillsand peer
mentoring The Power of Play
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Hemlock Heroes
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Getting Involved You can become a member (www.ruralaction.org)
or follow us on Facebookwww.ruralaction.org We have 26 Americorps
positions available (August-August) and will begin recruiting soon
Volunteering/Internships with all program areas Get involved:
Citizen Science (Great Backyard Bird Count)
[email protected]