Outdoor Afro » Education

Webinar: Evolving Environmental Education Practices in Urban Communities

Rue — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:25:49 +0000

Want a space for the sharing of ideas, experiences and to build knowledge through a collaborative and democratic process that promotes equity and respect? If so, join the launch of the Urban EE Collective’s Professional Learning Community (PLC):

Thursday, January 19TH, 2012
4:00 PM TO 5:30 PM EST, 1:00 PM TO 2:30 PM PST
Limited Spaces Available

REGISTER HERE BY JANUARY 17TH

This PLC is presented by the EECapacity Project, which supports environmental education and youth and community development in the US, Canada, and Mexico.The Urban EE Collective Facebook Group was created by the EECapacity project four months ago and now boasts more than 230 active members, who are sharing ideas, resources, and contacts.

There is an immediate need for more collaboration among our community, and we are already learning from each other. This online Professional Learning Community is a natural step forward to continue advancing the field of urban environmental education. Through chat, wikis, blogs and webinars, we will be able to grow as practitioners and members of our own urban communities, while helping increase the capacity of our network.

Register today for the opening webinar, where you will learn all you need to know about this PLC and about the EECapacity project, as well as hear a presentation on the evolving practice of EE. Please make sure you register soon to secure a spot. If you are unable to attend, be sure to register as a member of the PLC to access the recorded webinar after the presentation. For more information, send us an email to: pepe@eeexchange.org

Download the flyer for additional information regarding programming and presenters!

Kansas City Youth Overcome Fears and Enjoy Nature

Rue — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:38:13 +0000

“How big will the piranhas be?”

Submitted by Outdoor Afro Brandon Pope, CIG, Education Specialist at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. His blog exemplifies the need for relevant outdoor leadership to help youth feel more comfort and at ease to explore nature for the first time. Click to enlarge the wonderful pictures below:

Our agency recently hosted a three days/two nights float trip on the Current River in Southeast Missouri for 33 boys from Kansas City. None of them had ever tried any type of outdoor recreational activities outside of sports. So camping, canoeing, and many other aspects of the float trip were foreign to all of them. The river was a perfect body of water to take the boys as it is spring fed, thus always cool, slow flowing, and for the most part no more than 3-4 feet deep. The mild river conditions were important as the boys’ biggest fear was falling in as many could not swim.

Before the trip, we prepped the boys by taking them to Missouri Department of Conservation areas to show them how to set up a tent, become oriented with canoeing, and convey to them what to expect on the trip. Probably the most common question I received was “How big will the piranhas be?” that reflected their lack of experience exploring the natural world, and some sensationalized wild animal knowledge based on what they had seen on television.

Probably the most rewarding aspect of the trip was seeing the boys get over their fears and genuinely embrace the experience. Some boys fell in love with fishing. When one of the kids caught a trout, several other boys instantly picked up rods inspired to do the same. And non-swimmers became comfortable enough to enjoy floating in the water downstream with life jackets on. Although at the end of our three-day trip EVERYBODY (staff included) was ready to go home, I’m proud know we gave the boys an experience they’ll never forget.

Women of Color in the Wilderness: Voices in the Movement

Rue — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 18:37:02 +0000

Check out this insightful set of interviews by Erica Licht, created as part of her thesis project at Vassar College in New York in 2010.

The project examined the relationship between African American women and the recreational wilderness, and more specifically how a recently surfaced movement headed by black women activists and scholars, has re-emphasized this relationship and propelled forward a vision for increased entry and accessibility.

Among those featured are Professor Carolyn Finney, Chelsea Griffie — and yours truly! Enjoy:

Children’s Summer Solstice Bird Count in the Presidio! June 11th!

Rue — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:00:49 +0000

Saturday, June 11th

10 am to 2 pm

Meet at Rob Hill Campground

Did you know that the Presidio is a birding hotspot in the Bay Area? After a short “binocular bootcamp and birding basics” youth ages 8 to 15 and their families will join experienced birders in teams on different routes throughout the Presidio. After an easy 2 hour walk counting observed bird life, groups will return to Rob Hill Campground to tally their numbers during lunch. The day be topped off with presentations of the day’s numbers by…kids!

Lunch will not be provided, so we recommend bringing a paper-bag lunch and snacks as needed. Please remember to dress in layers and bring water. Binoculars are not required, but recommended if you have them (a supply of binoculars will be available to borrow for the day).

Because space is limited for this
event, please RSVP to Pete Bidigare
at: pbidigare@presidiotrust.gov or
415-561-4449

Venue: Rob Hill Campground, Presidio of San Francisco

Address: Rob Hill Campground 900 Washington Blvd, San Francisco, CA

This free event is sponsored by the Presidio Trust and Golden Gate Audubon

Every Child Should…

Rue — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:02:03 +0000

Discover California’s Past

Splash in the water

Play in a safe place

Camp under the stars

Explore nature

Learn to swim

Play on a team

Follow a trail

Catch a fish

Celebrate their heritage

According to the California Roundtable on Recreation and Tourism, “Numerous studies document that children who do these things are healthier, do better in school, have better social skills and self-image, and lead more fulfilled lives.”

In 2011, please join Outdoor Afro in helping all children, no matter what state they live in and their adult caregivers, exercise these rights through activities such as camping, hiking, biking, birding, and other outdoor activities in both structured and unstructured ways.

Each month, Outdoor Afro will focus on a different aspect of these opportunities. I encourage you to share your photos and videos that show how you connect with nature and community and can inspire others.

In what ways will you commit to helping a child in your life connect with the outdoors?

ACA Forms Educational Alliance with Outdoor Afro

Rue — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:05:18 +0000

Outdoor Afro was fortunate to make contact with the American Camp Association (ACA) at the Grassroots Gathering hosted by the Children and Nature Network last summer, and after several enthusiastic conversations about connecting diverse communities to the outdoors, Outdoor Afro and ACA decided to form a new educational alliance. Outdoor Afro believes the camp experience, particularly family camp, can be an important gateway to connect children with nature, create lasting environmental stewardship, and inspire a healthy future.

The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who, for nearly 100 years, have joined together to share knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs. ACA is dedicated to enriching lives through the camp experience. They believe that all children, regardless of their family’s financial capacity, deserve the opportunity to attend camp.

“We are pleased to partner with Outdoor Afro,” said Peg Smith, ACA’s CEO. “We share a commitment to bring the benefits of first-handexperiences with the natural world to diverse populations.”

Outdoor Afro will support ACA’s efforts to better reach diverse populations with information about the camp experience. And in February of 2011, Outdoor Afro will host a talk at the ACA National Convention called: Cultivating and Recognizing Diversity in Family Camp to examine strategies camps can use to support cultural relevancy in the camp experience.

As part of this partnership, ACA is offering the Outdoor Afro community of readers a free, one year membership to their association. Use the following link: http://www.acacamps.org/membership/counselors. Use the code COUNSELOR-2010 for the free membership, a value of $200.

Brother Yusuf’s Corner: Adirondack Youth Summit on Climate Change

Rue — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 07:30:12 +0000

Green Tech High Student Climate Change Ambassadors (SCCA) attend

Adirondack Youth Summit on Climate Change.

Green Tech Climate Change Ambassadors (from left to right) Qua Shawn Van Tull, Brother Yusuf Burgess, Ms. Amanda Wilson, Jabbar Johnson, Aaron Cassidy and Lionel Mann.

Adirondack Youth Summit was held at The Wild Center (Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks) in Tupper Lake, 2010 on November 9&10. The two-day summit was a successful means for students, educators, administrators and staff to work together to build a realistic, achievable plan to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Through partnership schools learn, formulate and implement ideas regarding climate change. The Summit served student and teacher participants from 30 schools throughout the Adirondacks and Northeast New York State – bringing together high school juniors and seniors, college students, educators, school administrators, and facility staff to discuss how climate change is affecting them and their future.

Students learn more about Solar Power and other alternative energy sources.

Director of Programs at The Wild Center Jen Kretser, invited student/members of Albany City’s Green Tech High Charter School – BOYS OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP TEAM to attend. The Green Tech High students were escorted by the school’s Service learning Coordinator, Ms. Amanda Wilson and the Family Intervention counselor, Brother Yusuf Burgess. Troy High School was also in attendance, as the second urban school, adding to the conversations and planning. The students attended a series of sessions and hands on workshops, hearing research-based information about ecological consequences of climate change. They also learned strategies to respond to climate change and in the process save their school and communities money.

Green Tech students Qua Shawn Van Tull, Jabbar Johnson, Lionel Mann and Aaron Cassidy represented the school’s student body and benefited through increased knowledge and leadership skills gained by their participation in the Summit. These students developed carbon and cost reduction plan to bring back to Green Tech High and their community.

As a group these Student Climate Change Ambassadors (SCCA) will share their school action plan with other interested students and members of the BOYS OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP TEAM. Their mission is to implement a school cafeteria waste and recycling program and assist the school administrators in the reduction of the carbon footprint of Green Tech High Charter School, see their school serve as a model in energy efficiency, sustainable energy usage, building maintenance, landscaping and grounds management, school and community gardening planning and how to affect the current science curriculum in the school.

Brother Yusuf (center) takes a break with students at the Fresh Water Fish display at the Museum.

These Green Tech High Students, along with 6 other young men from the school’s Boys Outdoor Leadership Team, will be attending the Green Careers and Job Fair at New York City’s New School on December 11, 2010. They will visit with representatives from regional organizations, find out about jobs, internships, scholarships and programs for environmental careers in the New England area. This select team of students will network with over 100 high school students and teachers from environmentally-themed high schools in New York City and build career-enhancing skills and get the scoop on trends in green jobs.

“It’s Beautiful Out Here”

Rue — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 08:01:26 +0000

The Nature Conservancy is doing some terrific work to help youth connect to the outdoors and foster the next generation of environmental leadership though its LEAF program — Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future, a comprehensive environmental leadership program for teenagers and their educators.

Brigitte Griswold, Outdoor Afro friend and Director of Youth Programs says, “The Program brings students from all different backgrounds to work together towards a shared set of conservation goals. For many of these urban youth, it’s their first time living outside of the city, their first extended time in nature, their first paid job, their first opportunity to swim in a lake or a river, to camp and kayak. All of these “firsts” combine to provide a truly transformational experience. And when they return to the City, they become ambassadors for conservation in their families and communities.”

Great job Brigitte and the Nature Conservancy! Learn more about these courageous kids and this amazing program by clicking HERE!

December’s Bird of the Month

Rue — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:50:48 +0000

Douglas “Birdman” Grey, Outdoor Afro Contributor

As one who spends a lot of time outdoors, I’ve noticed that nature seems harsh at times. Even with birds, their lives can sometimes seem brutal. And some birds even appear to be equipped with “Weapons of War”. Keen and intense eyes, swept-back wings, sleek aerodynamic bodies, razor-sharp talons and menacing beaks.

But the Bird of the Month for this month, doesn’t possess any of these weapons of war. This month’s bird is the common, but not so commonly known, Ruddy Duck.

When it comes to ducks, we as humans typically consider them to be …”cute”. We are usually introduced to ducks even before we can speak. They animate our baby books. They cover our baby bibs. They float in our baby baths. They’re symbols of cheer for us, usually from an early age. And this is probably because they’re just so ding dang …”cute”.

The Ruddy Duck is an odd bird but it is, in my opinion …”cute”. I find the rattling sounds this bird makes during courtship a bit odd … but cute. During the breeding season the male’s bill turns a bright blue. I find a blue bill on a bird a bit odd … yet cute. They have an odd looking spiked tail, which is often times held straight up, which makes them look even more …”cute”.

While checking out a very large retention pond a few weeks back, I noticed a number of different species of waterfowl out on the water and among them were about 80 or so Ruddy Ducks. I spent almost an hour observing them, all the while thinking, “Awwww…those Ruddys…they are just soooo cute!”

(Just then a Bald Eagle swooped in, snatched one right out of the water, and carried it off for consumption. The life of birds can seem brutal at times.)

By Lynne Arrowsmith

Douglas “Birdman” Gray has been birding almost all of his life. He grew up on a family farm near Clarksville, Tennessee, where they grew crops ranging from apricots to wheat, and most things in between. They also raised chickens, guineas, pigs, horses, and a cow named…….Apples. Doug’s grandfather identified the birds they would see daily on the farm.

Doug now resides in Indianapolis and works in Parenteral Engineering with Eli Lilly and Company. Most of his current birding takes place in Indiana, with a concentration on Central Indiana, where he leads bird walks for “Backyard Birds”. Doug can be reached at 317-255-7333.

Honoring Teachers Who Use Nature to Inspire Learning

Rue — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 06:34:57 +0000

Larry Volpe was recently honored aboard a Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic Cruise around the San Francisco Bay for his innovative use of the outdoors to enhance classroom learning for his 5th grade students at Daniel Lairon Elementary School in Santa Clara County, CA. He said, “I spend 1000-plus hours a year on outdoor trips, gardening, home visits, taking kids to sporting events and much more, [these activities] bring me closer to the students and families and make what I do all the more worthwhile.”

Many thanks to the Children and Nature Network for such an informative and thought provoking award and celebratory event, in which Outdoor Afro was glad to participate.

Below is a break in the cruise action after an afternoon of kayaking in the San Francisco Bay — what an appropriate way to honor such an amazing teacher!

Can you spot the happy Outdoor Afro?

Photo: Claudia Tammen

Click to learn more about the Natural Teachers Network and view more photos!