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Written by Kristen Wells Carterville – For the past two years Kerry Glenn from Unity Point in Carbondale has been taking her sixth grade science class to Shawnee National Forest to educate them on the importance of the environment. Glenn was one of fifteen educators certified to teach the Project WILD program by attending the Environmental Education Workshop held at John A. Logan College on Wednesday September 21. Jennae DuBois, graduate assistant with the Beautify Southern Illinois Regional Campaign, coordinated a total of four workshops in the Southern Illinois Region. “The diversity of presenters and participants at these workshops provides an excellent opportunity for community networking along with a variety of free educational materials and resources,” explains DuBois. Project WILD is a national environmental education program developed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It is widely used among formal and non-formal educators kindergarten through high school. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources sponsors these workshops statewide by providing environmental education guides, posters, and grants. They also sponsor Project Learning Tree and Project WET. Randy Wiseman, state coordinator from IDNR, explains that people must attend a workshop that is taught by a trained-volunteer facilitator to be certified in the Project WILD program. Formal and non-formal educators along with college students may attend. Certified Educators in the Project WILD program will receive a guide that includes environmental projects that are in connection with the Illinois curriculum requirements. They will also receive Continuing Professional Development Units or college credit. Educators must attend these workshops in order to apply for the School Yard Habitat Action Grant Program, according to Wiseman. This grant provides funding for teachers and students who are interested in creating or enhancing schoolyard habitat area. Schools, nature centers and youth groups may apply for a Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant. The deadline to apply for the grant is October 15. Up to 20 projects are usually funded annually, averaging $300, and with a maximum annual award of $600. “Teaching young children the importance of the environment through projects in school is the best way to make an impact,” said speaker Curt Carter, director for Land for Learning Institute. The U.S. Forest Service, The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Man-Tra-Con, and the local Kiwanis Club fund the workshops. These sponsors help provide many free educational resources, free registration and meals. The Beautify Southern Illinois Campaign, Land for Learning, Giant City State Park, and the U of I Extension have teamed up to provide educators with the most comprehensive information about the many environmental education programs offered throughout southern Illinois. These workshops will help Beautify Southern Illinois Campaign achieve the goal of developing a long-range strategy for assisting our schools in implementing educational initiatives, which create positive environmental awareness and participation in maintaining a clean community. For more information on these workshops, please contact Paul Restivo at (618) 453-7180 or restivo@cehs.siu.edu. Project Learning Tree Workshop A Success Terry White of Child Care Resource and Referral greeted people at the door at the beginning of the Project Learning Tree Workshop with a big smile as people filled out name tags during registration. White helped coordinate the event. Project Learning Tree is a national environmental education program widely used among educators of students in kindergarten through high school. Educators come to get certified in order to be eligible for receiving grants to fund environmental projects and field trips. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources sponsors these workshops statewide. They also sponsor Project WILD and Project WET. There were 34 teachers, daycare providers, and scout leaders in attendance at John A. Logan College on Saturday. The volunteer facilitators Sue Hirsch and Linda Hauser of Shawnee National Forest included various activities that can be used in the classroom to give kids hands on education which also ties in with the environment from a workbook called Project Learning Tree Guide Book. “The book is great. It is broke down so easily into categories. The material is all good and I highly recommend it,” said Kim Ross visiting from Mattoon to attend the workshop. Jennae DuBois, the graduate assistant for Beautify Southern Illinois who created these workshops collaborated with Terry White, Susan Hirsch and Linda Hauser. She provided an additional workbook full of grant options, environmental education activities, and environmental facts. The workbooks were provided with the help of Man-Tra-Con, a non-profit organization that helps with the funding of other non-profit organizations. “This workbook is a valuable resource if teachers are willing to go the extra mile,” said DuBois as she presented the workbook. Deborah Simmons-Gray was the guest speaker during the lunch hour presenting the importance of Service Learning. She is an educator through the University of Illinois Extension. She stated that service learning promotes better behavior in children and encourages them to continue volunteering throughout their lives. It gives children an opportunity to voice their concerns and work towards making a difference. “We must realize that we impact other’s lives. We affect the kids we work with,” said Marty Thorton of Marty Thorton’s Daycare in response to her reason for attending the workshop and how she plans on involving her kids in such activities. “This workshop was a total success,” said Project Learning Tree coordinator Terry White. “We are providing real learning experience resources to take home and to the center of class and actually work with kids on activities. This is something to do again on a yearly basis to give more opportunities.” These workshops will help achieve the goal to develop a comprehensive long range strategy for assisting our schools in implementing educational initiatives, which create positive environmental awareness and participation in maintaining a clean community. Project WILD Photo 1
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