High school teachers and environmental club leaders want to inspire students to realize how exciting—and important—the environment is. But they often lack time or resources to make that happen.
EarthTeam [1] aims to change this.
Founded in 2000, EarthTeam works to create a new generation of environmental leaders by introducing—into the classroom and the community—experiences that inspire dedication to a healthy environment.
Today, EarthTeam seeks to expand its efforts, with a proposed “Eco-Stewards” project to engage 300 students in middle and high schools across low-income communities of Richmond, Oakland and Pittsburg, California. During 3 in-class workshops and 3 field days, students ages 12-18 could learn about – and then help restore and monitor – the environment in their region.
Seen through a student’s eyes, how does the environment look? As this potential project takes hold, we’ll have a chance to find out. Eco-Steward participants will write, draw and photograph their impressions of outdoor experiences, generating content for The Green News [2], a student-written newsletter with 2,500 subscribers, and The Green Screen [3], a student-hosted cable TV show.
This content, plus lesson plans, will be posted on EarthTeam’s website for teachers, community leaders and everyday environmentalists to share across the nation. At the end of the day, disadvantaged kids will get connected with nature and empowered to become environmental stewards – today and for the rest of their lives.
Compared with many initiatives, this project requires modest and focused financial support – a total of just $75,000 can provide the staff time, technical tools and program development needed to benefit disadvantaged youth in 7 high schools and 1 middle school in and around Oakland. Your donation has an immediate – and lasting – impact. You can also take action [4] in your own community.
