fall 2017 newsletter - california aeoe state university ... , aeoe vice-president tracey weiss and...
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DearAEOEmembersandfriends,IamwritingthismonthtofollowuponlastJune’sarticleaboutAEOEbeginningtheprocessofcreatinganenvironmentaleducatorcertificationprogram(EECP).Iampleasedtotellyouthatithasbeenabusyandproductivesummer.ThefirststepswereaseriesofstakeholdermeetingsbeginningwiththeinitialmeetingattheAEOEstatewideconferenceatJonesGulch,aswellasapresentationfortheCaliforniaEnvironmentalEducationInteragencyNetwork(CEEIN).ThesemeetingshavebeeninstrumentalinhelpingtoshapeandprovideguidanceaboutwhatsortofEECPisrightforCaliforniaandwhoshouldbeinvolvedinthecreation.Whilethereweredifferentopinionsonthedetails,theprojecthasbeenmetwithpositivefeedbackacrosstheboard.Fromthemeetingsandfromourextendednetworkwehaveenlistedsomekeyplayersthathavetheskills,knowledge,andpassionweneedtomovethisprogramforward.FromCaliforniaDepartmentofEducationwehaveShannonGordon,GregIrafromCaliforniaNaturalist,JenniferOrtegaFacultymemberatHumboldtStateUniversityteachingEnvironmentalEducationandFundamentalsofEnvironmentalEducation&Interpretation,EmilyfromNAI,EstrellaRisingerNationalEducationManagerfromNatureBridge,AEOEvice-presidentTraceyWeissandmyself.This
groupmakesuptheEECPsteeringcommitteeandwehadourfirstmeetinginmidAugust.
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Fall2017Newsletter
AEOELetterFromthePresidentInThisIssue:SpecialBulletin,EECPUpdate
September
1LetterFromthePresident
CouncilUpdates
EveryoneCanBeaScientist
Let’sKeepPeopleExcitedAbouttheSky
ParticipatoryMappingwithStudents:
EnhancingSenseofPlaceThroughInquiry
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Fall2017 CaliforniaAEOENewsletter
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HappySeptemberEveryone!Welcomebacktothoseofyouwhoarebackfromsummerbreakandcongratulationsonsurvivingthesummerheatforthoseofyouwhoneverstopped!Forthoselong-timeAEOEmembersyoumightrecognizemynameandthehilariousandnotatallcheesyjokespepperedthroughoutmyupdates.ForthoseofyouwhojoinedAEOEinthepastfewyearswelcome,wearesuperexcitedtohaveyou!MynameisAngieKemsleyandIamreprisingmyroleastheSouthernCouncilChair.ThistimearoundIamstokedtoworkalongsidetheothercouncilmembers,theBoard,andofcourseourfearlessleaderReedSchneider,tocontinuetopreservetheAEOEspiritwhilemakingtheorganizationbigger,stronger,moreprofessional,andmoreusefulthanever!SomeofyoumayremembermeasanaturalistfromCuyamacaOutdoorSchoolinSanDiego.IlookuponthoseyearsfondlyastheyintroducedmetoAEOEandtaughtmehowtohave95girlsshoweredin90minutes,askillwhichhasprovensurprisinglybeneficialthroughoutmanyfacetsoflife.IalsospentsometimeworkingattheSanDiegoZooleadingtoursandcommunity-basedconservationworkinMexico.Icurrentlyapplymyskillsatanon-profitcalledWILDCOASTbasedoutofSanDiego.Weareaninternationalteamthatconservescoastalandmarineecosystemsandwildlife.IamontheMPAteam(marineprotectedarea-thinkstatepark,butunderwater)coordinatingastatewidecitizenscienceinitiative.ShoutouttoCampOceanPines
CouncilUpdates
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whoispilotingourcitizenscienceprogramatoutdoorschoolsthisyear!Nodoubtyou’llhearmoreaboutmarineprotectedareasandcitizensciencefrommeinupcomingnewsletters.AsIreprisemyroleasSouthernCouncilChairforasecondgo-around,Iammorededicatedthanevertostrengtheningthefieldsofoutdoor,environmental,andexperientialeducationinthestateofCalifornia.Neverinmyprofessionalcareerhavewefacedatoughertimethanwhatwefaceintoday’spoliticalandsocialclimate,butneverhasconnectingpeoplewithnaturebeenmoreimportantthanitisnow.Thewaythatwefightignoranceisthroughgoodwork,strongpartnerships,andatenacitythatneverquits.SoIamheretotellyouthatwecandoit,together.Wewilldoit,together.NowmorethaneveritisimportantforAEOEtostandstrongandforourmemberstocometogetherinashowofsolidarity.Iencourageeachandeveryoneofyoutonotonlyreadthenewsletterandcometotheconferences(butseriouslycometotheconferences),butalsotoreachoutandgetinvolved.NowisthetimetomakeAEOEstrongerthaneverandtheonlywaywewilldothatisbyleveragingtheamazingpooloftalentednaturalists,teachers,rangers,educators,guides,zookeepers,aquarists,conservationists,scientists,andthemanymoreprofessionalswehaveinourranks.Ifyouhaveanidea,reachout.Ifyouwanttogetmoreinvolved,reachout.Wewouldlovetohearfromyou.Wishingyouallagreatfall!AngelaKemsley
AngelaKemsley
Fall2017 CaliforniaAEOENewsletter
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CoastalCleanup
SteveMorris
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OnSeptember16th,2017yourAEOEBoardofDirectorsassembledfortheirannualin-personmeetingatYMCACampSurfinImperialBeach,California.Thisalsocoincidedwiththe31stannualInternationalCoastalCleanupDay,aglobalmovementthatencompasses6millionvolunteersin90countries.Thisdayisalsoarguablytheworld’slargestannualpreservationandprotectioneventandvolunteereffortforourocean,waves,andbeaches.InpartnershipwithILoveACleanSanDiego(@iloveacleansd),YMCACampSurfwasadesignatedcleanupsiteallowingyourboardtoparticipateinthisincredibleeffort.Thatmorningtheboardwasproudtojoin127volunteerspickingup175poundsoftrashwiththetopfivemostcommonlycollecteditemsbeingcigarettebutts,plasticbeveragebottles,foodwrappers,plasticbottlecaps,andplasticstraws.Ifyoudidnotgettoparticipateinthecleanup,hereare10easythingsyoucandotoprotectourpreciouswaterways:BeConsiderateofWildlifeOurtrashcandamageorkillwildlifeeasily,butitiseasytopreventthesetragedies.Neverdisposeoffishinglineornetsinthewater.Don'treleaseheliumballoonsoutside.MinimizeyouruseofStyrofoam.
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Cutopenplasticsix-packringsthatcanentanglelife.ReduceHouseholdToxinsThefewerherbicidesandpesticidesyouspray,thefeweryouwillswimin!Byusingnaturalfertilizer,phosphate-freedetergentsandnon-toxiccleaningproducts,youcanensurehealthierwaterwaysandacleaneroverallenvironment.ReduceRun-OffIt'seasytoavoidcontributingtononpointsourcepollution!Puttrashinthecaninsteadofthegutter.Usesoapsparinglywhenwashingyourcar.Ifyoumustusechemicalsonyourlawn,don'tsprayonawindydayorwhenrainisexpected.Also,anestimated15tonsofpetwasteflowsintowaterwaysandendsupintheoceaneveryday!Fixingcarleaksandrecyclingusedmotoroilcanpreventoilpollutionfromrunningintosurfacewaters.ConserveWaterWithjustalittleeffort,wecanallsavewatereveryday.Uselow-flowshowerheadsandfaucets,take
shortershowersandrepairleakyfaucetstohelpouroceans.EatSustainableSeafoodNotallseafoodiscreatedequal.Someseafoodchoices,likewildfishfromhealthypopulations,aregoodfortheocean,whileothersareharmful.Foralistofsmartseafoodchoices,seeSourcingSeafood.Formoreinformationonocean-friendlyseafood,visittheSeafoodChoices
Allianceatwww.seafoodchoices.org.KeepplasticoutoftheOceanTheoceanisawashwithnon-biodegradableplasticdebris;someofitsofinely-groundthatitisdigestedbymicroscopicplankton,thebasisoftheoceanicfoodchain.Keepplasticoutoftheoceanbyreducingtheamountofplasticyouuse.Avoidplasticbagsby
PhotoCredit:MikeNicoloff
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EveryoneCanBeaScientist
ErinSnyderRiverside-CoronaResourceConservationDistrict
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“Citizenscience”definesitself:Itissciencedonebycitizens.Thisisnotanewconcept;earlynaturalistslikeJohnMuir,CharlesDarwinandJohnJamesAudubonwereallcitizenscientists.Therehascertainlybeenaresurgenceofthepracticeoverthelastseveraldecades.
Moderntechnologicaladvances,particularlydigitalsocialmedia,haveenhancedcitizenscienceparticipationthroughpracticessuchascrowdsourcing.Onlineplatformsandmobileappsmakeiteasyfornon-sciencetrainedcitizenstoparticipate,primarilyinthecollectionofdataandobservations.
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Citizenscienceusuallyinvolvesvolunteersobservingandreportingorcollectingandsubmittingdatatoprofessionalscientists,institutions,orothercollaborators.Trainingisprovidedasneededbythevolunteerstoensurethequalityofreporteddata.Peoplecanworkindividuallyoringroupsornetworksoverawiderangeofsubjects.
Projectsoftenrequiredatacollectionoutside;however,therearealsoprojectsthatcanbedonefromyourhomecomputer.Theseprojects
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usingreusableshoppingbags.Refillplasticwaterbottles.Recycleplastic,ordisposeofitwithcare.Biodegradableplasticproductsmadefromcorn,foodstarch,andsugarcanearenowavailable.ThinkabouthowyourfoodisproducedRun-offfrommodernconventionalagriculturalpracticesisoneofthemajorcontributorstotheamountofEDCs(endocrinedisruptinghormones)inthewaterwaysandocean.Bysupportingorganicfarmingandbuyingorganicfoodyouwillkeeptheoceanshealthy,anddecreasethepoisonsinyouandyourchildren.Supportlocally-grownfoodbyshoppingatlocalfarmers'markets.SupportlocalorganizationsFindalocal,small,non-profitorganizationworkingtoprotectourwaterwaysandoceans,suchasSanDiegoCoastkeeperorILoveACleanSanDiego,andgetinvolved.Thatwayyouwilllearnmoreabouttheproblemsweface,andcanbecomeamoreeffective
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partofthesolution.Educateyourself.Pollutioninthewaterwayscomesfrommanysources,especiallyindustry.Theburningofcoalreleasesmercury,aneurotoxinthatisfoundinheavyconcentrationsintunaandswordfish.Dioxinsfrompaperbleachingandagriculture,areaffectinghormonesystems.Weallneedtolearnmoreabouthowthewayweliveisaffectingtheworldwelivein,andbegintopressureourgovernmenttoinvestinalternativeenergysourcesandgreenindustrialpractices.SpreadtheWord!Talktofriendsandfamilyabouttheproblems-andthesolutionsthatimpactourwaterways.Writeletterstotheeditorsofyourlocalnewspaperscallingattention tomarineissues.
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trainvolunteerstointerpretcollecteddatadisplayedonline.
Manyofyoumayalreadybepracticingcitizenscienceandnotevenknowit.Birdwatchingandweatherrecordsareexamplesofcommonactivitiesthatbecomecitizensciencewhensubmittedtoscientificentities.AGooglesearchyields17millionhitsforcitizenscience.Thereareorganizationsofcitizenscientistsdedicatedtoprojectdevelopmentandvalidcollectionprotocolstoensurequalitydata.Therearesitesthatcompileandsharelistsofavailableprojects.Thereareindividualprojectsseekingparticipants.Thereissomethingforeveryonewhowantstobeascientist,acitizenscientist.
ThisarticlewasreprintedwithpermissionfromtheRCRCDnewsletter.
TheCultureofStorytelling
AngelaKemsley
TheImpactofStorytellinginConservationEducation
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OnceUponaTime…Thepracticeofstorytellinghasbeenfoundineveryculturethroughouttheknownhistoryoftheworld.Storytellingallowsculturestotransmitdataandemotionsinamannerthatistwenty-twotimesmorelikelytoberememberedthansimplefacts.Thereisevenevidencetosuggestthatstorytellingishard-wiredintoourbrainsandtheprocessofreadingcanpermanentlyandpositivelyrewirethoseconnections.Thenatureofthestoryappearstomakeno
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differenceasbothoralandwrittenstories,aswellasfictionandnonfictionstories,allprovesuccessfulinrewiringthebrain.Thereisevidencetosuggestthatfictionalstoriesevenholdaspecialpowerastheyareabletoplacethereaderinsituationsnotfoundinregularlife.Fictionalstoriesencouragethereadertoexaminetheworldfromtheviewpointofsomeoneelse.Readersmaygetaglimpse“insidethehead”ofsomeoneutterlyunlikethemselves,aprocessthatovertimehasbeenshowntoevokerealemotionsinthereaderandleadtoincreasedempathy.Forexample,readersofthefictionalHarryPotterserieshavebeenfoundtobemoreopenandunbiasedtowardtraditionallymarginalizedgroups.Storytellinghastheaddedadvantageofbeingabletoadaptovertime.Ashumanculturescontinuetoevolvesomaythestoriestheytell.Additionally,sincethemediuminwhichthestoryisconveyedappearstomakenodifference,thistoomayadaptwiththetimes.Dueinparttotheadventandpopularityoftechnology,storytellingtodayiseasierthaneverbefore.Specifically,theinternetisanespeciallyefficientwaytocreateandtransmitstoriesquicklytoalargeaudience.Digitalstorytelling,asthisiscalled,isamediumthatisquicklygainingtractionandresearchsuggestscouldrevolutionizethefieldofstorytelling.Preliminarydatasuggeststhatdigitalstorytellingholdsallthesamebenefitsoforalandtraditionalstorytelling,withtheaddedvalueof
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easeofcreationanddisseminationofthematerial.Thereisevenevidencetosuggestthatdigitalstorytellingmaybemoreeffectivethantraditionalmethodswhenusedwithpeoplewhowereraisedwithtechnology.Recentstudieshaveshownthatstudentsraisedwithtechnologyshowedahigherneuralengagementandhigherlevelsofbrainfunctionwithdigitalmaterialratherthanwithprintedmedia.Theeducationalvalueofdigitalstorytellingisonlyjustbeginningtobeexplored.Theuseofstorytellingandoftechnologyintheclassroomhasbeenwell-documentedbutthebenefitsofthetwotoolsusedinconjunctionwithoneanotherhasbeenpoorlystudied.A2013studywithschoolchildreninItalysuggeststhatthecreationofinquiry-baseddigitalstoriesintheclassroomwereeffectiveatfosteringteambuilding,group-workskills,andcollaboration.Studentsinthisstudyshowedanincreasedunderstandingofdifferentgenresofliteratureaswellasanincreaseintheiranalyticalandsynthesizingskills.FactorFiction?IrecentlyhadtheopportunitytostudythepowerofstorytellingforconservationonatriptoBelize.BelizeishometoamazingcreaturessuchasthetapirandtheHarpyeagle.Unfortunately,whenanareaishometoiconicspecies,thesespecieshavethepotentialtoslipfromfacttofolklore.Thesespecieshavemorphedfromcasualcountrymentomonstersoflegendthatinstillfearintotheheartsofresidents.Thetapir,ahefty225kilogrammammal,isoftenfearedasapredator,andlegendhasittheycanripmenlimbfromlimbwiththeirrazorsharpteeth.Inreality,thetapirisashyherbivore,thatonlyoccasionallyrunsintohumansbyaccident.TheHarpyeagleisrenownedforitsimpressivewingspanandpenchantforcarryinghumanchildrenofftoitsnest.Itisoftenusedasawarningtokeepchildrenclose.TheHarpyeagle,however,wouldmuchrathereatasloththanachild.Recognizingthatthelegendssurroundingthelocalspeciesweredrivingthemtoextinction,SharonMatolaandthestaffattheBelizeZoosetouttodisprovetheseharmfulstoriesusingstoriesoftheir
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own.ProperstoriesthatdispelthemythsprevalentinBelizeanculturecanbefoundthroughoutthezoointheformofsignsaswellasinaseriesofbookswrittenbyMatolaherself.OneexampleisHoodwink,thespectacledowl.Hoodwink,aliveowlthatcanbeseenonexhibitattheBelizeZoo,starsinitsownseriesofchildren’sbooksinwhichitteamsupwithotherforestcreaturetogoonadventures.Matolastatesthatthesebookshavehadgreatsuccessconnectingvisitorswithwildlifeandshebelievesthatstorytellingcanbeapowerfultoolforconservation.StorytellingforConservationUponmyreturnIdecidedtogivestorytellingatryinmyownwork.AtthetimeIwasconductingacommunity-basedconservationprojectinMexicocenteredaroundsavingthevaquitaporpoise(ofwhichtherearecurrently…sniff…onlybetween30and60left).Iinvolvedalocalclassroomisthecreationofstorybooksaboutafewoftheirlocalspecies.NotonlydidIreceivebeautifulstorybooksinreturn,apreandpostevaluationrevealedthatthestudents’connectiontonatureactuallysignificantlyincreasedasaresultoftheirparticipationintheproject!Sotherestoftheworldisfinallystartingtocatchontosomethingeducatorshavelongedseemedtoknow…thepowerofstorytellingismorethanjustfantasy!Sohowdoyouincludestorytellinginyourwork?Campfiresandstorynightsaregreatfunandanexcellentopportunitytoincorporatesomeconservationandlifelessons.Journalingisanothergreatwaytoleteventhemostshyofstudentsconnectwiththeworldaroundthem(ifyouwantsometipsonnaturejournalingcheckoutpastAEOEkeynoteJohnMuirLaws’website...wowthethingsyoulearnatanAEOEconference…).Ichallengeeachandeveryoneofyoutothinkabouthowyoucanbetterincorporatestorytellingintoyourlessonsandifyouhaveaneatwayinwhichyouusestorytelling,senditourway!Wewouldlovetoprintitinthenewsletter!TheAEOEnewsletterteamwantsyoutosendusyourstories!Haveaneatwayyouusestorytellinginyourlessonsoranexampleofagreatstorywrittenbyastudent?Sendittonewsletter@aeoe.organditmightjustbepublished!
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OnMondayAugust21st,2017,theUnitedStatesexperienceditsfirstcoast-to-coasttotalsolareclipsesince1918.This90-minuteeventcrossed14statesfromOregontoSouthCarolinaandcapturedtheattentionoftheentirecountry.Peopletravelledtothepathoftotalityinunprecedentednumbersandacrossthenationpeoplejoinedtogethertoviewthisspectacularevent.Theunprecedentedlevelofinterestandenthusiasmfortheeclipsewasfueledbyheavymediacoverageinthedaysandweeksleadinguptoitandforamomentthenationwasfocusedonscience!Aseducators,wehaveanopportunityandperhapsaresponsibilitytocapitalizeonthisnewfoundexcitementaboutastronomyandscienceingeneralandtobuilduponitbeforethemomentpasses.ThenexttotalsolareclipsevisibleinCaliforniawon’tbeuntil2045,butherearesomeexcitingupcomingastronomicaleventsthatwewillbeabletoseethisseason:November12th-ConjunctionofVenusandJupiterJustbeforedawn,looktotheeasternhorizontoseetheplanetsVenusandJupiterrisetogetherandpasswithin0°16’ofoneanother.Theywillbevisiblewiththenakedeyeandcloseenoughtoviewtogetherthroughbinocularsoratelescope.December13thand14th-GeminidsMeteorShowerVisiblefromDecember4thtothe16th,theGeminids
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Meteorshowerisoneofthebrightestandmostprolificshowersoftheyear.Itwillpeakon12/14/17whenup120meteorsperhourwillbevisible.Betweenmidnightand2am,looktothenortheasternskyandfindtheconstellationGemini(justtotherightofOrion)wheremanyofthemeteorswilloriginate,leanback,andenjoytheshow.January31st2018-TotalLunarEclipseStartingat4:50am,looktotheWesternSkywherethemoonwillbeabout23°abovethehorizonandseetheredshadowbegintopassacrossitsface.At5:29amtheeclipsewillreachtotalityandthemoonwillappearcompletelyred.However,itwillbepositionedjust15°abovethehorizon,soyouwillneedanunobstructedviewtothewesttoviewit.March31st-BluemoonAbluemoonisthesecondfullmooninacalendarmonth.Typicallythisphenomenononlyoccursevery2-3years,but2018has2,oneinJanuaryandoneinMarchandtherewillbenofullmoonduringthemonthofFebruary.May9th-JupiteratOppositionJupiterwillbedirectlyoppositethesunandattheclosestpointtoearthinitsorbitandthereforeappearlargerandbrighterthanatanyothertimeoftheyear.ItwillbevisiblewithintheconstellationLibraformostofthenightandreachitshighestpointintheskyjustaftermidnight.Itwillbevisiblewiththenakedeyeandwithbinocularsviewersshouldbeableto
Let’sKeepPeopleExcitedAbouttheSky
NathanTaxel
OceanInstitute
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makeoutatleastsomeofitslargermoons.Withatelescope,viewerscanexpecttoseesomedetailintheplanet’sdistinctivecloudbands.Formoreinformationaboutupcomingastronomicaleventscheckoutthesewebsites:http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-current.htmlhttps://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/https://in-the-sky.org/index.phpWhetheryoubuildtheseeventsintoyourprogramingorjustletyourparticipantsknowaboutthem,wehaveafantasticopportunitytokeeppeopletalkingaboutastronomyandspacesciencethisyear,don’tpassitup!
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ParticipatoryMappingwithStudents:EnhancingSenseofPlaceThroughInquiryGaleaAlbano
MiamiUniversityAIPStudent
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ParticipatoryMappingMappingone’sownschoolenvironmentconnectsstudentstotheirsurroundingsinameaningfulway.IwasinspiredtotestthisoutafterIlearnedthatmappingisanactivitythatfostersfeelingsofcommunity,inspiresproblemresolution,andprovidesanewwayoflearning(Mears,2012).Mappingcanalsoenhancefeelingsof
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placeattachmentorsenseofplace,bothfeelingsthatinspirepro-environmentalbehavior(Kudryavstevetal.,2012).Senseofplacecanbedefinedasacombinationofplaceattachmentandplacemeaning.Placeattachmentisthebondpeoplecreatebetweenpeopleandplaces.Placemeaningisthesymbolicmeaningpeoplegivetoplaces.Senseofplacecanbestrengthenedwithconstantvisitstoandusesofcertainareas(Kudryavstevetal.,2012).Thinkofaplaceyoulovetogo:aplaceyoufeeldeeplyconnectedto.Youwouldhelptoconserveit,wouldn’tyou?Thismappingactivityattemptstostrengthenthatfeelingofplaceconnectionandthedesiretoprotectit.TheInformal&FlexibleLessoninNature:Myplanwastointroducetheconceptofdroughtandhavethekidsmapevidenceofwaterflowsuchassignsoferosion,andanythingelsetheywantedtomapalongtheway.Then,Iwasgoingtoturnthoselocationsintoopportunitiesfordiscussionaboutwaterflowinthearea.Allowingthechildrentoguidethediscussionduringourhikes,Irealizedthekidsweremoreinterestedinnon-nativeandinvasiveplantspeciesandtheirimmediatedestruction(stomping,pulling,smashing).Byembracingthekids’excitementregardinginvasivespecieseradication,theprojectturnedouttobeanenjoyablenaturehikewithsomeartandmappingwoventhroughouttheday.Thekidsconnectedwiththeirenvironmentandprovidedafoundationforfollow-upprojectsinvolvingideaslikeweedandtrashremoval.Thefollowingsectionsgothroughthestepstakenduringourhikes,themapswemade,andthefuturestepssuggestedtodrivehometheimportanceofconservationintheirneighborhoods.ThreeGroups,OneFinalMapIspentadaywithfourthgradersatHighTechElementaryinChulaVista,CAtoexploretrailsrightoutsideoftheirschoolgrounds.TheclasshadrecentlycompletedactivitiesfromtheCoolRiverProgramhostedbySanDiegoRiverParkFoundation.Thatprogramfocusedonthewatershedtheirschoolbelongstoandhowtoassessthehealthofthewaterthere.AfterIwasintroducedtothestudents,theclasswassplitintothreegroupsofabouteightstudentspergroup
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andIspent90minuteswitheachgroupatseparatetimesoftheday.Equippedwithclipboards,paper,pens,andpencils,thefirstgroupwascalledandwewereoff!Group1:Theywereaskedtocreateamapofthenaturetrailoutsideoftheirschoolandtomarkdownanyplants,animals,orareasofinterestalongtheway.Eachchildwasgivenafieldguideandwasaskedtoidentifyplantsandinsectsaswewalkedalong.Beforeourtimeonthetrailwasup,Iaskedthestudentstodraworwriteaboutthemostinterestingthingtheysawwhileonthehike.Theideabehindthisactivitywastoincreasetheirconnectiontowhattheyjustsawandtobuildontheirsenseofattachmenttothearea.Attheendofmytimewiththegroup,Icollectedthemapsanddrawingsandwaiteduntilafterrecessforthenextgroup.OnemapstoodoutfromtherestasbeingthemostthoroughandIchoseittobethebasemapforsecondgroup.Group2:Thesecondgroupwastaskedwithaddingmoreobservationstothemapandtoexpanduponitbygoingfurtherthanthepreviousgroup.WhereGroup1leftoff,thetrailsplitintothreepaths,andthesecondgroupmappedthepaththatwentstraightahead.Ihadthesamediscussionswiththisgroupabouttheirwatershedknowledge,droughttips,andtrashawareness.Duringtheirlunchbreak,Ireviewedthemapswithnewmarkingsandtraildetailsandchosethemostinclusiveoneasthebasemapforthelastgroup.Group3:Theirtaskwastobuildupontheirpeers’previousmapsandtoaddtheleft
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sideofthetrailasthefinishingtouch.Theycompletedthistaskandweresoexcitedtohavealarge,fullmapattheendofthedaythateachclassmembercontributedto.AlthoughIwasaskedtoleadthefourthgraderstodiscusswatershedconcepts,itwasthestudentswholedthediscussionwithminimalguidancefromme,andweallconsideredtheexperienceasuccess.WhyItMattersChulaVista,likemostofSanDiego,isveryurbananddenselypopulated.Thistypeofurbanenvironmentmaydisconnectpeoplefromnaturesoitisincrediblyimportanttoinspireactionamongtheseresidentstomaintainandhopefullyimprovetheirqualityoflife.Ithinkgoingthroughthisactivitywithstudentsofanyageinanyurbansettingcanonlyhavepositiveoutcomes.Attheveryleast,itwillallowthestudentstoseetheirsurroundingsinanewlight;alightthatcanilluminateotherpartsoftheirlivesandleadtoconsciousdecisionswhenitcomestosustainabilityandconservation.ThekidsundoubtedlyenjoyedtheirtimeoutsideoftheclassroomwithmeandIknowIenjoyedmytimewiththemaswell.Thesemappingprojectsarehopefullyjustthebeginningoflifelonggoodbehaviorandenvironmentalstewardshipamongurbanyouth.ReferencesKudryavstev,A.,Stedman,R.C.,&Krasny,M.E.(2012).Senseofplaceinenvironmentaleducation.EnvironmentalEducationResearch,18(2),229-250.Mears,J.(2012).Themanybenefitsofcommunitymapping.Connect,25(4),1-3.
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Mission:ToadvancetheimpactofenvironmentalandoutdooreducationinCalifornia.
OfficersPresidentVicePresidentChiefFinancialOfficerSecretaryMembersatLargeNorthernChairNorthernPastChairSouthernChairSouthernPastChairOtherImportantContactsHistorianMembershipCoordinatorNewsletterEditorWebmasterGovernanceChairEOSMCoordinatorMedia,Marketing,&MembershipChair
@CAEOE
@CAEOE
@CAAEOE
@CalAEOE
@CAEOE
@AEOE
https://aeoe.org
ReedSchneiderTraceyWeissSteveMorrisKatieAnderson
SarahAnguloMarianaDiazAngieKemsleyAmandaMartinHelendelaMazaTomDrakeRyanMayedaLeahCallan
JymnMeierHelendelaMazaKelseyKilloranGabeGermanowTraceyWeissRyanMayedaTomDrake
[email protected]@[email protected]@aeoe.org
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560SilverStrandBlvd.ImperialBeach,CA91932
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Fall2017