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Environmental Youth Connections: Connecting Education and Nature

Environmental Youth Connections (EYC) aims to connect environmental and outdoor learning with local parks, trails, and natural areas. EYC addresses the needs of teachers and provides opportunities for youth to engage with their natural environment. Through workshops, grants, and curriculum resources, EYC promotes academic success, improved health, and sustainable forest stewardship. Contact us for more information.

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Environmental Youth Connections: Connecting Education and Nature

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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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