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EYC

EYC. Environmental Youth Connections. Connie Abert, Waupaca County UWEX & Gretchen Marshall, UWSP JCEP Conference April, 2011

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EYC

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  1. EYC Environmental Youth Connections Connie Abert, Waupaca County UWEX & Gretchen Marshall, UWSP JCEP Conference April, 2011 University of Wisconsin, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Wisconsin counties cooperating. UW-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming including Title IX and ADA.

  2. Purpose of EYC To provide a direct connection between environmental and outdoor learning & local parks, trails and natural areas.

  3. Needs addressed through EYC • UW-SP graduate study: • 88% of teachers indicted a need for more in-service/training and curriculum; • 63% of teachers indicated a desire to increase outdoor use; • 77% of teachers would like to greater utilize community and school properties; • 79% of teachers need environmental education equipment. • The UWEX survey results: • 60% did not know areas close to the school were permissible to use; • 66% would be interested workshop that connected learning and natural areas. • 80% were willing to use local forest for outdoor education;

  4. Goals to address EYC Needs • In Fall 2007 UWEX invited public stakeholders countywide to develop goals that addressed identified needs: • to serve more youth and citizens in natural resource areas; • to have access to more places, resources and volunteesr; • to have training opportunities for staff and volunteers to develop age appropriate lesson plans for local natural areas; • to find support for these efforts through education, outreach, and grants.

  5. National Research & Wise Old Principal • Play is essential to child development • American Academy of Pediatrics • Nature Deficit Disorder • Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv • Better stress coping skills when in homes connected to nature • 2003 Cornell University Study • City life can lead to less emotional control, ↑ level of aggression • How the City Hurts Your Brain, Jonah Lehrer • Psychological benefits linked to diversity of its plant life • University of Queensland, Richard Fuller • Childhood Obesity – access to places increases activity • American Association of Recreation Professionals

  6. Educators Response • Grant • for professional development connected to local natural areas • Workshops and lesson plans • Leaf (uwsp), Project Wet – Wild - Learning Tree, KEEP • Site Visits and Visioning • Each school / community • School Forest Designations & WEEB Workshop • WEEB grants

  7. Enriching Students. Sustaining Forests. The Wisconsin K-12 Forestry Education Program

  8. The Value of Wisconsin's Forests

  9. Education Understanding Sustaining

  10. College of Natural Resources, UW-Stevens Point Wisconsin DNR Partnership

  11. LEAF….. • Is Wisconsin focused • Is long-term and comprehensive • Incorporates current educational needs • Connects to schools, organizations, and agencies

  12. LEAF Services • Consultation • Curriculum Resources • Professional Development • School Forest & Outdoor Classroom Support

  13. LEAF Curriculum

  14. www.leafprogram.org

  15. LEAF Opportunities Workshops & Courses School In-services Forestry Field Days On-line Networking

  16. WI School Forest Program • Registered under WI Community Forest Law; established in 1928 • 380 school forest parcels owned by: • 209 different Public School Districts (363 parcels) • 9 Private Schools • 8 Higher Education Institutions • Parcels range from 2 to 748 acres Public School Districts with School Forests

  17. Benefits for Registered School Forests: • Eligible for grants • Free DNR forest management assistance • Free trees • WI School Forest Education Specialist assistance • Resources on School Forest Website

  18. WI School Forest Support WI School Forest Specialist provides information, assistance, and resources for districts developing and growing their school forest programs. Contact: Gretchen.Marshall@uwsp.edu 715-346-2633

  19. Outdoor classrooms… …allow students and teachers to: • Gain an appreciation and awareness of natural resources • Learn core subjects • Build self-esteem, skills, and knowledge • Develop life-long critical thinking skills • Encounter real-life situations, outside • Be engaged by lessons

  20. WI Center for Environmental Education Other resources: • KEEP (WI K-12 Energy Education Program) • Resources Library • Education for Sustainability • WEEB (Wisconsin Environmental Education Board)

  21. Where Are We Now • Submitted WEEB grants for 5 of 7 school districts • Designated over 20 properties as school forest • Curriculum connect to School Forest • Sustainable Plans for Forest

  22. What do we expect? • Academic Success • Better Stewards • Health Improvements • Sustainable Forest

  23. The Wisconsin K-12 Forestry Education Program Gretchen.Marshall@uwsp.edu 715-346-2633 Waupaca County UW-Extension Environmental Youth Connections connie.abert@ces.uwex.edu 715-258-6226

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