Presenter: Ashley Adelman
Co-Presenters: Roslyn Braun, Kerry Sheehan, Kristen Kruse, Luke Holladay, Zoie Wesenberg
Mentors: Kathryn Lynch and Alicia Kristen, Environmental Studies
Oral Presentation
Major: Environmental Studies
Today children are more plugged in and less connected to the natural world than ever before, and thus may not develop the awareness, concern, or motivation to protect our natural heritage. As the environmental leaders of tomorrow, children deserve experiences in nature in order to foster lasting connections with the places they inhabit. This year the Environmental Leadership Program at UO launched a new five-year partnership with Mt. Pisgah Arboretum (MPA) and Adams Elementary School called “Restoring Connections.” The purpose of the project is to develop a place-based, experiential environmental education project for elementary school children as they move from kindergarten to fifth grade. This year’s team focused on an in-class lesson and an all-day field trip at MPA for over 200 elementary students in grades K-2. Journaling, sit spots, species identification, singing, drawing, and restoration projects inspire and encourage children to become explorers and gain a sense of personal responsibility for the stewardship of the natural world. Based on the methods of Coyote Mentoring, a motivation-driven educational approach, the facilitators and children create an active learning environment using inquiry to expand their knowledge of place. As budding environmental educators, we are gaining professional experience in place-based education through curriculum development and implementation, while making a difference in the lives of local children.