the junior naturalist program promoting environmental stewardship while empowering students...

The Junior Naturalist The Junior Naturalist ProgramProgram

Promoting Promoting Environmental Stewardship Environmental Stewardship

while while Empowering StudentsEmpowering Students

Presented by: Cara Rieckenberg, Environmental Education Coordinator, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools

What are the goals of the What are the goals of the Junior Naturalist Junior Naturalist

program?program? To provide environmental To provide environmental

stewardship opportunities stewardship opportunities for studentsfor students

To expose students to To expose students to more environmental more environmental education experienceseducation experiences

To promote environmental To promote environmental stewardship through stewardship through leadership and service leadership and service opportunitiesopportunities

To empower studentsTo empower students To have funTo have fun

How are the goals of the How are the goals of the Junior Junior

Naturalist program met?Naturalist program met?

Monthly meetingsMonthly meetings Service learning/stewardship projectsService learning/stewardship projects Environmental education activitiesEnvironmental education activities Modeling/teaching opportunities in Modeling/teaching opportunities in

classrooms and all-school meetingsclassrooms and all-school meetings Outreach to other Outreach to other

schools/organizationsschools/organizations

Why is a Junior Naturalist Why is a Junior Naturalist program important?program important?

““It’s important that children know they don’t It’s important that children know they don’t have to wait until they are adults to make a have to wait until they are adults to make a difference in the environment. The behaviors difference in the environment. The behaviors and attitudes that children develop continue and attitudes that children develop continue into adulthood.” ~ Robert Wilke, Ph.D. into adulthood.” ~ Robert Wilke, Ph.D. University of WI – Stevens PointUniversity of WI – Stevens Point

Contact with nature has a positive effect in Contact with nature has a positive effect in reducing the impact of attention deficit reducing the impact of attention deficit disorder in children (Taylor, Kuo, & Sullivan, disorder in children (Taylor, Kuo, & Sullivan, 2001)2001)

Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE


Enhances:Enhances: AwarenessAwareness – developing an awareness and – developing an awareness and

sensitivity to the environmentsensitivity to the environment KnowledgeKnowledge – acquiring a basic understanding of – acquiring a basic understanding of

the environment and its problemsthe environment and its problems AttitudesAttitudes – acquiring a set of values and feelings – acquiring a set of values and feelings

of concern for the environment and motivation of concern for the environment and motivation for participating in improving and protecting itfor participating in improving and protecting it

Skills Skills – acquiring skills for identifying and solving – acquiring skills for identifying and solving environmental problemsenvironmental problems

ParticipationParticipation – encouraging active involvement – encouraging active involvement in resolving and preventing environmental in resolving and preventing environmental problemsproblems



WA middle school students participating WA middle school students participating in EE programs consistently in EE programs consistently outperformed peers not involved in EE outperformed peers not involved in EE programs on the state assessment test programs on the state assessment test (Bartosh, Tudor & Ferguson, 2005)(Bartosh, Tudor & Ferguson, 2005)

MN elementary students in integrated MN elementary students in integrated EE programs scored significantly higher EE programs scored significantly higher on MCAs in reading (Workman, 2005)on MCAs in reading (Workman, 2005)



Hawaiian elementary students in an issue Hawaiian elementary students in an issue investigation EE program scored higher on a investigation EE program scored higher on a critical thinking test than peers (Cheak, critical thinking test than peers (Cheak, Hungerford, & Volk, 2002)Hungerford, & Volk, 2002)

Outdoor adventure programs tend to show Outdoor adventure programs tend to show positive impact on self-esteem (American positive impact on self-esteem (American Institute for Research, 2005; Cross, 2002)Institute for Research, 2005; Cross, 2002)

Little Falls students (MN) in the Little Falls students (MN) in the environment-based program comprised just environment-based program comprised just 28% of reported discipline problems but 28% of reported discipline problems but represented 46% of the student body represented 46% of the student body (Lieberman & Hoody, 2002).(Lieberman & Hoody, 2002).



Natural interest in the environmentNatural interest in the environment Increased motivation and effort when Increased motivation and effort when

students are involved in real-life students are involved in real-life issues with real-world issues with real-world connections/applicationconnections/application

Offers opportunities to see Offers opportunities to see connections – among subject areas connections – among subject areas and between school and ‘real life’and between school and ‘real life’

Multiple senses are engagedMultiple senses are engagedJulie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based

EE


Ties into effective educational practices:Ties into effective educational practices: Inquiry-based projectsInquiry-based projects Service learning/real-world problem solving/ Service learning/real-world problem solving/

issue investigation/projectsissue investigation/projects Student-centered learningStudent-centered learning Hands-on learningHands-on learning Integrated approachesIntegrated approaches Involvement of community partnersInvolvement of community partners Tangible/concrete projects or productsTangible/concrete projects or products


How does a Junior Naturalist How does a Junior Naturalist program get started?program get started?

A champion is needed…who will lead?A champion is needed…who will lead? Share proposal with administrationShare proposal with administration Share proposal with staffShare proposal with staff Generate interest with studentsGenerate interest with students Obtain commitment from Obtain commitment from

students, teachers, and students, teachers, and parentsparents

Who is the Who is the Junior Naturalist Advisor?Junior Naturalist Advisor?

TeacherTeacher ParentParent Community memberCommunity member Most important Most important

characteristic is that characteristic is that this person has a this person has a commitment to commitment to empowering students empowering students through through environmental environmental stewardshipstewardship

What are the responsibilities of What are the responsibilities of the Junior Naturalist Advisor?the Junior Naturalist Advisor?

Attend beginning of year meeting with EE Coordinator, Attend beginning of year meeting with EE Coordinator, Naturalist and other district Junior Naturalist AdvisorsNaturalist and other district Junior Naturalist Advisors

Organize Junior Naturalist program at siteOrganize Junior Naturalist program at site Organize and provide information to classroom teachers on Organize and provide information to classroom teachers on

what the Junior Naturalist program is and how to choose Junior what the Junior Naturalist program is and how to choose Junior Naturalists as class representativesNaturalists as class representatives

Schedule a minimum of 10 meetings with Junior Naturalists Schedule a minimum of 10 meetings with Junior Naturalists throughout the school yearthroughout the school year

Schedule introduction meeting by the second week of OctoberSchedule introduction meeting by the second week of October Provide communication to Junior Naturalist families with dates Provide communication to Junior Naturalist families with dates

for all meetings and what the Junior Naturalist program isfor all meetings and what the Junior Naturalist program is Organize meetings by following provided format and in such a Organize meetings by following provided format and in such a

way that Junior Naturalists do an activity or service learning way that Junior Naturalists do an activity or service learning project at each meetingproject at each meeting

What are the responsibilities of What are the responsibilities of the Junior Naturalist Advisor?the Junior Naturalist Advisor?

Monitor Junior Naturalist progress on activity check listMonitor Junior Naturalist progress on activity check list Monitor need for Junior Naturalists to assist with recycling, food Monitor need for Junior Naturalists to assist with recycling, food

waste or litter monitoring and teachingwaste or litter monitoring and teaching Provide leadership through the Junior Naturalists for work on Provide leadership through the Junior Naturalists for work on

the Naturalist Bulletin Board and Touch Tablethe Naturalist Bulletin Board and Touch Table Provide all-school announcements before scheduled Junior Provide all-school announcements before scheduled Junior

Naturalist meetings as remindersNaturalist meetings as reminders Assist at all-school meetings and Earth Day with providing Assist at all-school meetings and Earth Day with providing

leadership opportunities for Junior Naturalistsleadership opportunities for Junior Naturalists Ensure that all Junior Naturalists are following Junior Naturalist Ensure that all Junior Naturalists are following Junior Naturalist

criteria:criteria: Schedule final meeting before the last week of MaySchedule final meeting before the last week of May Create award for recognition at end of school yearCreate award for recognition at end of school year Attend end of year reflection meeting with EE Coordinator, Attend end of year reflection meeting with EE Coordinator,

Naturalist and other district Junior Naturalist advisorsNaturalist and other district Junior Naturalist advisors

What are the responsibilities of What are the responsibilities of other adults?other adults?

TeachersTeachers FlexibilityFlexibility SupportSupport Some knowledgeSome knowledge

ParentsParents TransportationTransportation SupportSupport VolunteerVolunteer

AdministrationAdministration SupportSupport

Who can be a Junior Who can be a Junior Naturalist?Naturalist?

Anyone!!!Anyone!!!

What are the roles and What are the roles and responsibilities of responsibilities of

a Junior Naturalist? a Junior Naturalist? Be a positive role modelBe a positive role model Communicate information by teaching or reporting to Communicate information by teaching or reporting to

own classroom and buddy classroomown classroom and buddy classroom Monitor and collect recyclingMonitor and collect recycling Monitor food waste programMonitor food waste program Design and create bulletin board or display caseDesign and create bulletin board or display case Clean, fill, monitor bird feedersClean, fill, monitor bird feeders Clean, monitor wood duck and bluebird housesClean, monitor wood duck and bluebird houses Take daily readings at GLOBE weather station; report Take daily readings at GLOBE weather station; report

datadata Attend all scheduled meetingsAttend all scheduled meetings Assist with easy maintenance of outdoor learning areasAssist with easy maintenance of outdoor learning areas Be trained and train others on all EE related equipmentBe trained and train others on all EE related equipment

What are some What are some Junior Naturalist activities?Junior Naturalist activities?

Planting trees and/or flowers on school groundsPlanting trees and/or flowers on school grounds Maintaining outdoor learning areas (weeding, watering, Maintaining outdoor learning areas (weeding, watering,

cleaning out, etc…)cleaning out, etc…) Create bulletin board displays with themes (recycling, snow, Create bulletin board displays with themes (recycling, snow,

animal habitat, etc…)animal habitat, etc…) Learn EE related games and teach to other classroomsLearn EE related games and teach to other classrooms Install, monitor, fill and clean bird feedersInstall, monitor, fill and clean bird feeders Build, install, monitor and clean bluebird and woodduck housesBuild, install, monitor and clean bluebird and woodduck houses Storm water labelingStorm water labeling Work with EE related professionals assisting with community Work with EE related professionals assisting with community

projectsprojects Create and distribute pamphlets to neighbors about OLCCreate and distribute pamphlets to neighbors about OLC Organize all-school clean upOrganize all-school clean up Monitor recycling and food wasteMonitor recycling and food waste Study local animals/plants and provide awareness to school Study local animals/plants and provide awareness to school

community with mini-lessons, displays or photo muralscommunity with mini-lessons, displays or photo murals Create podcasts and videos for schoolCreate podcasts and videos for school

the junior naturalist program promoting environmental stewardship while empowering students...

Documents

environmental problems

environment awareness

service opportunities

problems attitudes

environment knowledge

empowering students

problems knowledge

children taylor