Empowering Southeast Ohio through Environmental Education …afterschool

Outline for today Introductions Rural Action’s EE Program: BEEPs Environmental literacy Sense of place Trimble Outdoor Club Group initiatives Sharing resources: lessons/take homes

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 RA’s strategy and programs require environmental literacy

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?

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 Ohio’s first people. What are the frost-free dates for this area? Name one insect and one bird that migrate through Ohio.

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

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.

It takes a village... Teachers and parents CFI( Community Food Initiatives) Hocking College Ohio University: Kids on Campus BBBS Camp Oty’Okwa

Environmental Literacy (NEEF 2005) About 80% of Americans are heavily influenced by incorrect or outdated environmental myths What are some myths?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 landfills 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

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

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.

Impacting Environmental Literacy How do you do it? “Look Don’t 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 work—social and civic skills—and peer mentoring The Power of Play

Hemlock Heroes

Getting Involved You can become a member ( 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)

Wisdom Sits in Places