Restoration & Education Presented by Matt Vincent

What is Restoration Education?  Environmental Education, Conservation Education, Natural Science Education  Multi-disciplinary Approach  Place-Based  Takes students out of the classroom

Obstacles to Restoration Education  Requires broad teacher knowledge  Requires connections to education standards  New and thus not as institutionally supported as traditional education  Logistics

Western Montana as a Model for Restoration Education  Environmental Issues in Montana Superfund Superfund Post-Industrial Communities: Butte, Libby, Anaconda, Bonner Post-Industrial Communities: Butte, Libby, Anaconda, Bonner Development & Growth Development & Growth Natural Resource Use & Management Natural Resource Use & Management

Western Montana as a Model for Restoration Education  Environmental issues and ongoing restoration created a need  Non-profits, EPA respond  Mainly in affluent or urban areas, generally underfunded, serve broad target audiences, often a low priority  Montana state government commits to restoration education via funding from restoration trust (CFWEP) ; Restoration Coordinator; Restoration Think-tanks; Montana Youth Restoration Partnership

Western Montana as a Model for Restoration Education  Restoration education also addressed educational issues in western Montana  Schools seek to raise student achievement in math and science; “inquiry” required  Teachers need content knowledge, curriculum, and expert support  Student learning outside of the classroom

Designing Curriculum  Knowledgeable, broad team Professional scientists Professional scientists Education experts/teachers Education experts/teachers University faculty University faculty Agency/project officials Agency/project officials  Addresses fundamental science skills to provide students with a context to understand environmental issues Water cycle; watersheds; physical, chemical and biological parameters; data collection and analysis Water cycle; watersheds; physical, chemical and biological parameters; data collection and analysis

Context: Place & History  Geography  History & Culture Natural Resource Development (Mining) Natural Resource Development (Mining) Urban Development Urban Development Immigration Immigration Labor Labor Legal (environmental regulation) Legal (environmental regulation)

Context: Environment & Restoration  Mapping human effects  Complexity of natural systems  Human health  Environmental health  The Present: What is being done in regards to restoration, and why?

Student-Scientists in the Field  Place students in the role of scientists  Ask questions: How is the current environmental health? How is the current environmental health? Cause and Effect: How did past human activities/natural phenomena contribute to the present state? Cause and Effect: How did past human activities/natural phenomena contribute to the present state? How are current human activities affecting environmental health? How are current human activities affecting environmental health?  Answers via: Historical research/context Historical research/context Field science observations Field science observations Data analysis Data analysis  End result: more informed students, better education, increased stewardship

Next Steps: Restoration & Community  Effective restoration education requires partnerships: Schools Schools Government Government Industry Industry Community groups Community groups Funders Funders

Next Steps: Funding Avenues  Private foundations/Government grants  Restoration funds  Education funds  Corporations or business interests  Education establishment  Volunteer and in-kind  Partnerships lower funding needs  Overall, restoration education is CHEAP

Next Steps: Students Engage in Restoration & Field Science  Identify a restoration or research need  Coordinate with relevant partners  Gauge interest & Recruit  Select Committed Participants  Training and mentorship  Implementation  Evaluation, follow-up and/or continuation

Does Restoration Education Work?  Results of prior assessments of restoration education programs:  2006 National Trust Study (UK-based) Improves environmental attitudes, science skills, and science knowledge Improves environmental attitudes, science skills, and science knowledge  2000 California State Education & Environment Roundtable Better performance on standardized tests in reading; writing; math; science; and social studies Better performance on standardized tests in reading; writing; math; science; and social studies Reduced discipline and classroom management problems Reduced discipline and classroom management problems Increased engagement and enthusiasm for learning Increased engagement and enthusiasm for learning Greater pride and ownership in accomplishments Greater pride and ownership in accomplishments  2004 American Institute for Research Study Raised science scores by 27 percent as measured by a pre- and post survey administered upon their return to school Raised science scores by 27 percent as measured by a pre- and post survey administered upon their return to school

CFWEP Results to Date  Students served: Over 13,000  Teachers served: Over 200  Cost per student: ~$120  Efficacy (2007 External Evaluation; Other Evaluation Data): Students feel confident in experiencing knowledge gains Students feel confident in experiencing knowledge gains All classes show significant knowledge gains (from 5% to 50% improvement on pre/post test) All classes show significant knowledge gains (from 5% to 50% improvement on pre/post test) Meeting and often exceeding funder milestones Meeting and often exceeding funder milestones Stewardship Survey Results: >50% (ranging from 52%-81%) of students agree that: Stewardship Survey Results: >50% (ranging from 52%-81%) of students agree that: they want to take care of the watershed; they want to take care of the watershed; care about the watershed;care about the watershed; know how science relates to the watershed;know how science relates to the watershed; understand how their actions affect the watershed;understand how their actions affect the watershed; know how to take care of the watershedknow how to take care of the watershed  Student participation in the restoration process has increased  CFWEP annual budget increase from a single-source, $230,000/year (two full-time staff) to over $600,000/year (five full- time staff) in four years.

Summary  Restoration education improves environmental understanding, stewardship and sense of place  Restoration education improves students’ relevant scientific knowledge and skills  Restoration education requires collaboration and community support  All communities can benefit from restoration education

Additional Resources  Montana Environmental Education Association (MEEA):  Studies on Environmental Education: “” (UK National Trust Study) - “Changing Minds: The lasting impact of school trips” (UK National Trust Study) “State Education & Environment Roundtable, California Student Assessment Project: The Effects of Environment-based Education on Student Achievement” - “State Education & Environment Roundtable, California Student Assessment Project: The Effects of Environment-based Education on Student Achievement” “The Effects of Outdoor Education Programs for Children in California” - “The Effects of Outdoor Education Programs for Children in California”  Clark Fork Watershed Education Program (CFWEP) Online:  PitWatch Online:  Montana Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP) Online:  EPA Montana Superfund Sites Online:  Discover Montana’s Ecosystems Online (FWP Site):  North American Association for Environmental Education:

Questions? Contacts: Matt Vincent CFWEP Director (406) Justin Ringsak CFWEP Communications Coordinator (406) Clark Fork Watershed Education Program (CFWEP) Montana Tech – Dept. of Technical Outreach 1300 W Park St Butte, MT (406)