I am looking for some examples of environmental projects that can engage the 10-15 year old age bracket. Examples of projects/initiatives that will excite and engage this demographic, but that does not require supervision, support materials etc. The engagement will be via a magazine targeted at that audience. Ideally the data/results/observations collected will assist with environmental management decisions, promote environmental issues, be used in petitions to create change etc. We want to really empower this age bracket that they can make a difference! We are looking at summer to launch this engagement so marine projects as well as any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Sheree Marris
Director Visions of Blue
PO Box 6677 St Kilda Rd
Central Melbourne VIC 8008
P:+61 3 9329 7824
F:+61 3 9329 0022
M: 0417 346 963
E: [email protected]
W: www.visionsofblue.com.au
Engaging Youth in Environmental Projects
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Sheree,
You may want to contact: Jeanine Silversmith Project Advisor, Teens for Planet Earth Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo 2300 Southern Blvd. Bronx, NY 10460 Email: [email protected] Visit their website at: www.teensforplanetearth.org
Good luck with your program!
Julie Wignall
Biodynamics, Inc. Independent Producers of the PBS series:
"Wonders of the West"
Las Vegas, NV
Sounds like a good high school project in itself - do you know any teachers that can help you? Also, the Gould League in Moorabbin may have some suggestions. (I'm sure some mums or dads of teenagers could offer you a few insights as to what might be cool these days)
Good luck.
Kathleen Esdaile
Green Office Consulting Manager
Going Solar 60L Green Building
60 Leicester St, Carlton VIC 3053
Ph & Fax: 03 9557 1971
m. 0408 571 971
Hi Sherre,
The local office of the US National Estuary Program (Morro Bay, California) does a great project on the beach with kids that age who visit here from inland areas with their schoolmates. It does require supervision and materials, so maybe it's not right for you, but it's such a cool event I hope it will inspire others to try it. It's basically this: The kids come here as part on a field trip funded by their school, so most of the supervision is handled by their teachers and parents. First they get a little time to just run around on the beach. Then they get a lesson from an enthusiastic person about marine resources and biology, preferably tied to something they see on the beach -- a row of pelicans flying low, a dead seal, whatever it is. Then they pick up trash. I think this is set up as a competition with coveted prizes (tshirts, recycled plastic water bottles) to keep the kids focused and moving along. Then the agency has the kids stand in formation to spell a word on the beach -- this year it was was "thrive" and last year, "preserve". The MBNEP hires a helicopter and photographer to take aerial photos of the kids. The kids have a blast and it's a great visual that gets in all the newspapers. They send a digital file of the photos to the teachers who brought the students here so the kids are further inspired. It's very exciting and memorable for the kids.
Terre
Hello from San Juan Island, Washington...home of University of WA Friday Harbor Marine Labs. Please check out their site for a wonderful K-12 science outreach program http://depts.washington.edu/fhlk12/index.html I particularly enjoy the "student projects" link...great fish photos! It's terrific for our residents and visitors to see groups of young students traipsing through town to go down to the beaches with their testing/monitoring equipment...quite inspiring and hope-inducing. There's also a link under "local community" to San Juan County's Marine Resources Committee that also does public outreach and education about our new Marine Stewardship Area (the whole county of islands in northern Puget Sound).
Helen Venada
You'll find a list of links to excellent youth water education resources at: http://www.uwex.edu/erc/youth.html
Janice Kepka