The Junior Naturalist Program Promoting Environmental Stewardship while Empowering Students Presented by: Cara Rieckenberg, Environmental Education Coordinator, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools

What are the goals of the Junior Naturalist program? To provide environmental stewardship opportunities for students To provide environmental stewardship opportunities for students To expose students to more environmental education experiences To expose students to more environmental education experiences To promote environmental stewardship through leadership and service opportunities To promote environmental stewardship through leadership and service opportunities To empower students To empower students To have fun To have fun

How are the goals of the Junior Naturalist program met? Monthly meetings Monthly meetings Service learning/stewardship projects Service learning/stewardship projects Environmental education activities Environmental education activities Modeling/teaching opportunities in classrooms and all-school meetings Modeling/teaching opportunities in classrooms and all-school meetings Outreach to other schools/organizations Outreach to other schools/organizations

Why is a Junior Naturalist program important? “It’s important that children know they don’t have to wait until they are adults to make a difference in the environment. The behaviors and attitudes that children develop continue into adulthood.” ~ Robert Wilke, Ph.D. University of WI – Stevens Point “It’s important that children know they don’t have to wait until they are adults to make a difference in the environment. The behaviors and attitudes that children develop continue into adulthood.” ~ Robert Wilke, Ph.D. University of WI – Stevens Point Contact with nature has a positive effect in reducing the impact of attention deficit disorder in children (Taylor, Kuo, & Sullivan, 2001) Contact with nature has a positive effect in reducing the impact of attention deficit disorder in children (Taylor, Kuo, & Sullivan, 2001) Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE

Why is a Junior Naturalist program important? Enhances: Enhances: Awareness – developing an awareness and sensitivity to the environment Awareness – developing an awareness and sensitivity to the environment Knowledge – acquiring a basic understanding of the environment and its problems Knowledge – acquiring a basic understanding of the environment and its problems Attitudes – acquiring a set of values and feelings of concern for the environment and motivation for participating in improving and protecting it Attitudes – acquiring a set of values and feelings of concern for the environment and motivation for participating in improving and protecting it Skills – acquiring skills for identifying and solving environmental problems Skills – acquiring skills for identifying and solving environmental problems Participation – encouraging active involvement in resolving and preventing environmental problems Participation – encouraging active involvement in resolving and preventing environmental problems Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE

Why is a Junior Naturalist program important? WA middle school students participating in EE programs consistently outperformed peers not involved in EE programs on the state assessment test (Bartosh, Tudor & Ferguson, 2005) WA middle school students participating in EE programs consistently outperformed peers not involved in EE programs on the state assessment test (Bartosh, Tudor & Ferguson, 2005) MN elementary students in integrated EE programs scored significantly higher on MCAs in reading (Workman, 2005) MN elementary students in integrated EE programs scored significantly higher on MCAs in reading (Workman, 2005) Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE

Why is a Junior Naturalist program important? Hawaiian elementary students in an issue investigation EE program scored higher on a critical thinking test than peers (Cheak, Hungerford, & Volk, 2002) Hawaiian elementary students in an issue investigation EE program scored higher on a critical thinking test than peers (Cheak, Hungerford, & Volk, 2002) Outdoor adventure programs tend to show positive impact on self-esteem (American Institute for Research, 2005; Cross, 2002) Outdoor adventure programs tend to show positive impact on self-esteem (American Institute for Research, 2005; Cross, 2002) Little Falls students (MN) in the environment- based program comprised just 28% of reported discipline problems but represented 46% of the student body (Lieberman & Hoody, 2002). Little Falls students (MN) in the environment- based program comprised just 28% of reported discipline problems but represented 46% of the student body (Lieberman & Hoody, 2002). Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE

Why is a Junior Naturalist program important? Natural interest in the environment Natural interest in the environment Increased motivation and effort when students are involved in real-life issues with real-world connections/application Increased motivation and effort when students are involved in real-life issues with real-world connections/application Offers opportunities to see connections – among subject areas and between school and ‘real life’ Offers opportunities to see connections – among subject areas and between school and ‘real life’ Multiple senses are engaged Multiple senses are engaged Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE

Why is a Junior Naturalist program important? Ties into effective educational practices: Ties into effective educational practices: Inquiry-based projects Inquiry-based projects Service learning/real-world problem solving/ issue investigation/projects Service learning/real-world problem solving/ issue investigation/projects Student-centered learning Student-centered learning Hands-on learning Hands-on learning Integrated approaches Integrated approaches Involvement of community partners Involvement of community partners Tangible/concrete projects or products Tangible/concrete projects or products Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE

How does a Junior Naturalist program get started? A champion is needed…who will lead? A champion is needed…who will lead? Share proposal with administration Share proposal with administration Share proposal with staff Share proposal with staff Generate interest with students Generate interest with students Obtain commitment from students, teachers, and parents Obtain commitment from students, teachers, and parents

Who is the Junior Naturalist Advisor? Teacher Teacher Parent Parent Community member Community member Most important characteristic is that this person has a commitment to empowering students through environmental stewardship Most important characteristic is that this person has a commitment to empowering students through environmental stewardship

What are the responsibilities of the Junior Naturalist Advisor? Attend beginning of year meeting with EE Coordinator, Naturalist and other district Junior Naturalist Advisors Attend beginning of year meeting with EE Coordinator, Naturalist and other district Junior Naturalist Advisors Organize Junior Naturalist program at site Organize Junior Naturalist program at site Organize and provide information to classroom teachers on what the Junior Naturalist program is and how to choose Junior Naturalists as class representatives Organize and provide information to classroom teachers on what the Junior Naturalist program is and how to choose Junior Naturalists as class representatives Schedule a minimum of 10 meetings with Junior Naturalists throughout the school year Schedule a minimum of 10 meetings with Junior Naturalists throughout the school year Schedule introduction meeting by the second week of October Schedule introduction meeting by the second week of October Provide communication to Junior Naturalist families with dates for all meetings and what the Junior Naturalist program is Provide communication to Junior Naturalist families with dates for all meetings and what the Junior Naturalist program is Organize meetings by following provided format and in such a way that Junior Naturalists do an activity or service learning project at each meeting Organize meetings by following provided format and in such a way that Junior Naturalists do an activity or service learning project at each meeting

What are the responsibilities of the Junior Naturalist Advisor? Monitor Junior Naturalist progress on activity check list Monitor Junior Naturalist progress on activity check list Monitor need for Junior Naturalists to assist with recycling, food waste or litter monitoring and teaching Monitor need for Junior Naturalists to assist with recycling, food waste or litter monitoring and teaching Provide leadership through the Junior Naturalists for work on the Naturalist Bulletin Board and Touch Table Provide leadership through the Junior Naturalists for work on the Naturalist Bulletin Board and Touch Table Provide all-school announcements before scheduled Junior Naturalist meetings as reminders Provide all-school announcements before scheduled Junior Naturalist meetings as reminders Assist at all-school meetings and Earth Day with providing leadership opportunities for Junior Naturalists Assist at all-school meetings and Earth Day with providing leadership opportunities for Junior Naturalists Ensure that all Junior Naturalists are following Junior Naturalist criteria: Ensure that all Junior Naturalists are following Junior Naturalist criteria: Schedule final meeting before the last week of May Schedule final meeting before the last week of May Create award for recognition at end of school year Create award for recognition at end of school year Attend end of year reflection meeting with EE Coordinator, Naturalist and other district Junior Naturalist advisors Attend end of year reflection meeting with EE Coordinator, Naturalist and other district Junior Naturalist advisors

What are the responsibilities of other adults? Teachers Teachers Flexibility Flexibility Support Support Some knowledge Some knowledge Parents Parents Transportation Transportation Support Support Volunteer Volunteer Administration Administration Support Support

Who can be a Junior Naturalist? Anyone!!!

What are the roles and responsibilities of a Junior Naturalist? Be a positive role model Be a positive role model Communicate information by teaching or reporting to own classroom and buddy classroom Communicate information by teaching or reporting to own classroom and buddy classroom Monitor and collect recycling Monitor and collect recycling Monitor food waste program Monitor food waste program Design and create bulletin board or display case Design and create bulletin board or display case Clean, fill, monitor bird feeders Clean, fill, monitor bird feeders Clean, monitor wood duck and bluebird houses Clean, monitor wood duck and bluebird houses Take daily readings at GLOBE weather station; report data Take daily readings at GLOBE weather station; report data Attend all scheduled meetings Attend all scheduled meetings Assist with easy maintenance of outdoor learning areas Assist with easy maintenance of outdoor learning areas Be trained and train others on all EE related equipment Be trained and train others on all EE related equipment

What are some Junior Naturalist activities? Planting trees and/or flowers on school grounds Planting trees and/or flowers on school grounds Maintaining outdoor learning areas (weeding, watering, cleaning out, etc…) Maintaining outdoor learning areas (weeding, watering, cleaning out, etc…) Create bulletin board displays with themes (recycling, snow, animal habitat, etc…) Create bulletin board displays with themes (recycling, snow, animal habitat, etc…) Learn EE related games and teach to other classrooms Learn EE related games and teach to other classrooms Install, monitor, fill and clean bird feeders Install, monitor, fill and clean bird feeders Build, install, monitor and clean bluebird and woodduck houses Build, install, monitor and clean bluebird and woodduck houses Storm water labeling Storm water labeling Work with EE related professionals assisting with community projects Work with EE related professionals assisting with community projects Create and distribute pamphlets to neighbors about OLC Create and distribute pamphlets to neighbors about OLC Organize all-school clean up Organize all-school clean up Monitor recycling and food waste Monitor recycling and food waste Study local animals/plants and provide awareness to school community with mini-lessons, displays or photo murals Study local animals/plants and provide awareness to school community with mini-lessons, displays or photo murals Create podcasts and videos for school Create podcasts and videos for school