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Educatorshaveswitchedfrompreachingtokidsaboutenvironmental degradationtousinghands-onlessonstogetK-12studentsnotonlyinterestedintheworld’senvironmentalpriorities, butalsoactivelyparticipatinginsolutions, maybeevenseekingoutrelatedcareers. “Youhopestudentscantranslate passionintointellectualcuriosityonthese subjectsanddeveloptheexpertisesothey cangobeyondbeinganactivisttobeing anadvocate,”saysKennethWalz,Ph.D., whoworksontheWisconsinK-12Energy EducationProgramattheUniversity ofWisconsin-StevensPoint.Walz,who teacheschemistry,engineeringandrenewableenergyatMadisonAreaTechnical College,alsoservesasitsdirectorofthe CenterforRenewableEnergyAdvanced TechnologicalEducation. WhileK-12environmentaleducation stillhasnospecificnicheincurriculum, accordingtoacasestudyofTheNational AcademiesofSciences,Engineeringand Medicine,numerousgroupsandeducators areworkingtoensurethenextgeneration ispreparedfortheenvironmentalchallengesitwillcertainlyface. Today’seducatorsbelievehands-on RAISING ENVIRONMENTALI STS Teachers Prep Kids for the Future by Yvette C. Hammett learningwillprepareGenerationZand thosethatfollowtolookforsolutions andevenseekactiverolestoimplement them. AaronBaker,aSussex,NewJersey, advancedplacementenvironmental scienceinstructorandatwo-timewinner oftheU.S. EnvironmentalProtection AgencyRegion2PresidentialInnovation Award,saysthekeytogettingthrough tothenextgenerationisshowingthem aproblemthat’sclosetohomethatthey cantouchandfeel,andthenrelatingitto aglobalissue. “Amajorpartofmyphilosophyfor environmentaleducationistotrytoengage studentsinenvironmentalissuesinourown community,”Bakersays.“Wecollaborate withtheWallkillRiverWatershedManagementGrouptorestoreriparianareasand increasebiologicaldiversity.” Thehighschoolstudentshaveplanted morethan750treesinthelastthreeyears alongthecreekthatrunsrightbelowtheir school.“Thistypeofhands-onworknot onlyhasadirectrelationshiptotheirlives hereinSussexCounty,butisalsorelevant tosimilarissuesonaglobalscale.” The30-year-oldNationalEnvironmentalEducationFoundation(NEEF)no Learn More or Sign-up Online at: TurnerFamilyFarms.com CSA PRODUCE DELIVERY We deliver fresh produce to your door! It's a great pleasure for us to know our clients are enjoying our service and creating amazing dishes with the freshest, most nutritious, local produce. It is our highest goal to offer great value in every box, including occasional value-added products from local food artisans, enticements from some of the best chefs and restaurants in town, and much more. Who's Your Farmer? Learn More or Sign-up Online at: TurnerFamilyFarms.com CSA PRODUCE DELIVERY We deliver fresh produce to your door! It's a great pleasure for us to know our clients are enjoying our service and creating amazing dishes with the freshest, most nutritious, local produce. It is our highest goal to offer great value in every box, including occasional value-added products from local food artisans, enticements from some of the best chefs and restaurants in town, and much more. Who's Your Farmer? We deliver fresh produce to your door! It's a great pleasure for us to know our clients are enjoying our service and creating amazing dishes with the freshest, most nutritious, local produce. It is our highest goal to offer great value in every box, including occasional valueadded products from local food artisans, enticements from some of the best chefs and restaurants in town, and much more.

Learn More or Sign-up Online at: TurnerFamilyFarms.com CSA PRODUCE DELIVERY We deliver fresh produce to your door! It's a great pleasure for us to know our clients are enjoying our service and creating amazing dishes with the freshest, most nutritious, local produce. It is our highest goal to offer great value in every box, including occasional value-added products from local food artisans, enticements from some of the best chefs and restaurants in town, and much more. Who's Your Farmer? Coming Next Month Plus: Cardiovascular Health Regenerative Medicine february

longersendsspeakerstoschools.Instead, itencouragesteacherstogetthestudents outsideworkingwithpartnerslikethe NationalParkServiceortheU.S.Forest Servicetolearnaboutrealworldproblems neartheirhomes,saysRobertSendrey,programdirectorofenvironmentaleducation. Motivationandinspirationarekey, hesays.“Wewerecreatedtohelpmakethe environmentmoreaccessible,relatable,relevantandmoreconnectedtotheaverage American’slife.” Ratherthanfocusingonthenegative aspectsofclimatechangeandthechallengesahead,NEEFpromotesahealthylifestyle andemphasizestheneedforcleanair andwater.“Weemphasizethewell-being ofpeople,whichisdirectlyrelatedtothe healthoftheenvironment,”Sendreysays. Successstartswithachangeinattitudeandawareness,andultimately needstoculminatewithaction,hesays. Forexample,NEEFteamedupwithzoos andaquariumsfortheSkiptheStraw campaign,educatingthepublicaboutthe environmentalharmcausedbysingle-use plastics.TheUniversityofWisconsinK-12 educationprogramfocusesonenvironmentalimpactsoftheenergysector—especiallyonairandwaterquality. “Ifyouareburningcoaltoproduce electricity,itcreatesallkindsofatmosphericpollution—acidrainandsootthat causesrespiratoryillness,”saysWalz.“Ifwe weren’tburningfossilfuels,urbansmog wouldn’tevenbeathing.”Theenergycurriculumforstudentsincludescontenton biofuelsandelectrictransportation.“For them,itismorethinkingaboutthetypesof transportationtheyuse,whethertheyare driving,ridingabikeortakingabus.”They don’tgettochoosewhatkindoffuelthe busrunson,buttheycanbeeducatedtobe goodfutureconsumers,henotes. “Ithinktheyappreciatetheissue,” Walzsaysofthestudents.“Middleschoolersbringthepassion.Thatsortofraw, emotionalangstissomethingweleft behindinourteenageyears.Adultshave beenwaytoocomplacentforwaytoolong.”

Yvette C. Hammett is an environmental writer based in Valrico, Florida. She can be contacted at YvetteHammett28@hotmail.com.

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