| Urban Stewards: Ecological Education in Schools |
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What is the Issue? |
| PROMOTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF CHILDREN'S ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION |
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Global Forest is collaborating with the Stanley Park Ecology Society on an ecological education program for children in Grades 5 through 7 in five schools in Vancouver. "Urban Stewards" creates in-depth opportunities for the students to engage in active conservation-based ecological projects at their schools and in their communities. The program centres around a general ecological core and merges hands-on learning with lessons carried out in the classroom throughout the school year. As well as receiving the core program, children participate in more specialized topics which are all tied into the principles of ecology, such as birds, pond life, seedlings and trees, and the web of life.
Where possible, children are involved in field trips and visits to appropriate facilities, culminating in a visit in the spring to the world-renowned Stanley Park. Urban Stewards marks the commencement of an important, long-term collaboration between Global Forest and the Stanley Park Ecology Society. We are both strongly committed to working together to bring ecology into the classroom.
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What is our goal? |
| TO ENCOURAGE THE ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AT BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LEVELS.
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Where we currently stand. |
| The educational ecology program, which began in September 2000, has been piloted in five schools in Vancouver that have spent the spring finishing up their urban stewardship projects:
Champlain Heights Elementary:
With the help and support of Vancouver Parks Board, Champlain Heights students have planted 114 coniferous trees in the area just west of Mount Everett!
Lord Roberts Elementary:
Grade 5 students from Lord Roberts Elementary have built 14 black capped chickadees and tree swallowbird houses. With the help of dedicated Vancouver Parks board staff the 14 nestboxes were installed around the south side of Stanley Park's Lost Lagoon to provide shelter for some of our beautiful summer residents.
Sir Matthew Begbie Elementary:
After sifting through resources to learn about the birds that live in their neighbourhood, these grade 5s built and installed 15 Black capped chickadee and tree swallow nest boxes at Rupert Pitch and Putt.
Bayview Elementary:
With the help and guidance of Urban Stewards and their school's greening committee, this grade five class mapped their school grounds to determine what habitat existed. Then, to increase habitat diversity on their school yard they planted native species including red flowering currant, vine maples, wild ginger, among many others.
Carnarvon Community School:
The grade 7 class at Carnarvon Community school has vowed to help teach their community about the importance and the value of gardening with Native Plants. They have been hard at work planning a Native Plant Party and Sale at their school. The big day was May 10 from 3-6 pm at 3400 Balaclava. Plants were generously supplied by Linnaea Nurseries Ltd.
On June 5th, held an end of year celebration in Stanley Park. Students presented their projects to the other classes, as well as members of the Vancouver School Board, The Parks and Recreation Board and media reporters. Visit the Global Forest Media Centre to view the clip from the 6 o'clock news.
The upcoming 2001/2002 year is sponsored in part by:
The Schad Foundation - Bolton, ON Canada.
Aquabus - Vancouver, BC Canada
Action Athletics Wear and Crest Ltd - Vancouver, BC Canada
AJ Graphics Ltd - Vancouver, BC Canada
Bob Rennie Marketing - Vancouver, BC Canada
Cats Only Veterinary Clinic - Vancouver, BC Canada
Eagle Spirit Gallery - Vancouver, BC Canada
Hoskin Scientific Ltd - Vancouver, BC Canada
Kensington Travel - Burnaby, BC Canada
Kimprints - Vancouver, BC Canada
Korva World Class Collision - Vancouver, BC Canada
Ms. Kaplan of Medicard Finance Inc. - Vancouver, BC Canada
Nemar - Vancouver, BC Canada
Pacific Boarders - Vancouver, BC Canada
Quick Cobbler - Vancouver, BC Canada
Rolfe, Benson Chartered Accountants - Vancouver, BC Canada
Super Valu-Davie St. - Vancouver, BC Canada
Takis Tavern Greek Restaurant - Vancouver, BC Canada
V&J Plants - Vancouver, BC Canada
Vancouver Architectural Antiques Ltd - Vancouver, BC Canada
Western Drum Recyclers - Maple Ridge, BC Canada
Zippy Signs Inc - Vancouver, BC Canada
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You can help this project - find out how. |
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