 |
| Search |
|
|
Observer Classifieds
Archives / Search 2003
Photo Gallery
Send a Letter to
the Editor
Send a Press Release
Staff Directory
|
|
Saturation Point
All of us have heard the saying that kids are our future—the future leaders of the world, the future doctors and caretakers of the sick and injured and the defenders of our planet. But how do they become these things? Are they born leaders, caretakers or environmental stewards? Probably not. It is by their interaction with their family, school and groups like Earth Force that allow kids to understand their true potential as an influence on and in the world. There are amazing things happening right here in Tampa Bay that are of great interest to those of us attempting to teach our children that they can make a difference.
Cindy Benkert, Executive Director of the Suncoast Earth Force, and I sat down for a chat about what it is her organization does for our community and our kids. First of all, Suncoast Earth Force is a non-profit environmental education organization located in Tampa, Florida. They opened the office in the summer of 2000 and have been going strong ever since. Benkert stated that their “main goal or mission is to engage young people in changing their communities and caring for the environment now, while developing life long habits of active citizenship and environmental stewardship.” Sounds pretty cool! Get kids involved in our community and allow them to see that their efforts to better their environment has a far reaching influence on themselves, their families and their schools. As educators, it sounds somewhat daunting to engage their classrooms in such projects, but Earth Force makes it easy by offering teachers “recruitment, 1-3 day training, materials, training stipends, yearlong support and professional development (in-service points accrue with hours of participation), partnerships with organizations and agencies, national evaluation (pre and post), Youth Summit admission for class, e-mail and phone contact, monthly information packets, newsletters (community and student), site visits to classes, networking meetings (3 times/year), workshops and project listing on national website.” Students have the opportunity to participate in a year long environmental project that teaches them the value of citizenship and boosts their self-esteem with every accomplishment and accolade they receive for their hard work.
Schools that are currently participating in the Earth Force program in south Hillsborough County for 2004/2005 school year are Bloomingdale High, Burns Middle, Clair-Mel Elementary, (Cypress Creek Elementary, Gibsonton Elementary,
Do you recognize any of the schools in your area? Do you want to know what they are doing for your community? Stay tuned!
© Copyright 2005 by The
Observer
News Publications and M&M Printing Company, Inc.
Top of Page
|
|
|
Saturation Point
Latest Headlines
|
|
