EPA Summer Program Students Learn Outside with Project Learning Tree
Jaclyn Stallard is the Manager of Education Programs for Project Learning Tree.
On July 18th, 18 rising eighth graders learned about the three aspects of biodiversity. Project Learning Tree (PLT) activities easily consumed two and a half hours of the morning, taking us on a global discussion that included simulating artificial selection, trekking outside on a schoolyard safari, and embarking on a self-guided tour of the water cycle. It was quite a way to start the week.
Each year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsors a seven-week program for Washington, D.C. area students, during the summer following their seventh grade year.
EPA’s Student Environmental Development Program is an environmental education and leadership program where a select group of students, often from diverse racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds, participate in outdoor education, hands-on learning, and field trips that supplement their traditional classroom education.
These 12-14 year-olds are taught by a local school teacher and also have the opportunity to experience topic lectures by EPA employees and area professionals. This is where PLT (and me!) come in.
“You are the best guest speaker the students have experienced this summer. Project Learning Tree’s hands-on activities are so interactive and engaging… they are just what these kids need,” commented the summer program’s teacher, Alexis Heath.
I have been a guest speaker at EPA’s Student Environmental Development Program for the past four years. Each year, they invite me back to teach students about biodiversity and also share my personal story (Where do I work? What do I do? How did I get there? What did I study?)
This year was extra special for me, as one of the first students who I worked with in the program has now returned as a high-school mentor for this summer’s class. Now a rising senior, this student remembered having me visit her Student Environmental Development Program as a guest speaker in 2008. I told her that I look forward to having her help me teach the seventh graders next summer!
Below you will find an outline of our lesson, including the three aspects of biodiversity and the specific Project Learning Tree activities and resources we used to explore them.
Genetic Diversity
-Biotechnology & You, Activity 1 from
Exploring Environmental Issues: Biotechnology
Species Diversity
-World Forestry Tour Cards, from
Global Connections: Forests of the World
-Schoolyard Safari, Activity 46 from the
PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide
Ecosystem (Communities) Diversity
-Water Wonders, Activity 44 from the
PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide
-Earth & Sky radio show, “
Census of Marine Life is now complete”
In addition to Washington, DC, EPA Region 3 also sponsors the Student Environmental Development Program in Baltimore, MD and Philadelphia, PA. Visit http://www.epa.gov/region3/ee/sedp.htm to learn more.
Photo credit Jaclyn Stallard
of my story started with my father's dad in the 1880s. He arrived in Wisconsin after
the white pine harvest - that was floated down river each Spring. The U S Leather
Company had sent out agents looking for hemlock which grew in thick hardwood
stands. My grandfather organized crews that cut and removed the bark [the only part
used - to tan leather]. My father hired out - with his team of horses - to do cross
hauling - in loading sleds] in Northern Wisconsin following his World War I service in
France.
My interest started in Boy Scouts, and -later - in a Conservation course in college.
My instructor had helped to found 'Trees for Tomorrow' and I had the opportunity to
see their work near Eagle River. I determined to own forest land. At that time the
Reitbrock Land and Timber Co. was liquidating, so I could buy my first forty for eight
hundred dollars. The forty next to it was owned by a widow and she agreed to sell
for another five. Money was not easy to come by, but at fifty dollars a month I paid
the bill. In 1958 I and others hand planted 55,000 white spruce and Norway pine in
this cut over land. I also harvested large aspen and balsam for lumber on Saturdays - when I was not teaching. Eventually [with more lumber from my father's woodlot]
I was able to built a 32 by 48 foot ranch house - and my mortgage never exceeded
$12,500. I sold that house for $55,000 and - with more lumber from both my and my
father's forest, I built our present home for $32,5000. In 1965 I purchased another
forty that joined the eight at one corner. Since that time improvement cuts have resulted in income of $6,000, $3,250, and - most recently $22,728. I have not had
to do anything in the latter harvests. Each improvement cut had resulted in an ever
more productive forest. I have built an insulated one room cabin on site and enjoy
knowing the earth is better for restoring the woods to a true forest.
What cost me $2,300 is now said to be worth $154,000. Fibonacci would be proud.
Fast forward to the 1940s for our tree farm, later 1976 to me of 80 acres of hardwoods and the red pine planting we have done in the small fields. We welcome all to our Tara, As Scarlett said, "there will always be Tara.."