Presenter: Makenzie Shepherd
Mentor: Katie Lynch
Poster: 30
Major: Environmental Studies
The prominence of technology and urbanization in the 21st century has established a concrete distinction between the urban and natural worlds. Younger generations, increasingly disengaged and separated from their local natural environments, are exhibiting symptoms of what is colloquially called “nature-deficit disorder.” Marked by rising levels of ADD/ADHD, obesity, depression, and muted creativity, nature-deficit disorder reflects a concerning trend that will accelerate if not immediately and holistically addressed. As the 2014 Critters and Currents team of the Environmental Leadership Program at the University of Oregon, it is our mission to bridge the gap between youth in Eugene, OR and their environment by inspiring them to form connections with the McKenzie River Watershed. Our place-based environmental education curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning by providing creative, collaborative, and physically active lessons that challenge our students to engage the senses and think critically about the local environment and our interdependence with it. Scavenger hunts, field journaling, and storytelling are all activities that empower our students with the attitudes, skills, knowledge, and confidence to create and maintain a strong bond with nature. It is crucial that younger generations restore this connection because our youth have the potential to transform the ways in which our society views and interacts with nature. The Critters & Currents curriculum promotes environmental awareness, inspires respect and compassion for the natural world, and encourages positive environmental action now and in the future.