Members Teach Local Students About Responsible Water Use
How can students apply what they learn about the environment to their everyday lives? How can we motivate youth to take action improving their local environment? What can kids do to make others in their community aware of environmental issues? Twenty-four members of SCA's New Hampshire Conservation Corps are keeping these questions in mind as they conduct their annual "Education Season" providing environmental education to fourth and eighth grade students at thirteen schools in the Allenstown and Manchester School districts.
Students learn how plants, animals, and humans use and impact water in the Merrimack River Watershed, as well as the importance of water stewardship. However, the curriculum also takes these concepts to the next step. Corps members lead students in completing service-learning projects: applying what they have learned to serve their school and local community. Some of the projects students will complete this year include creating murals, bookmarks and interactive exhibits, as well as performing in a water-themed concert to raise awareness.
In addition, working in partnership with the University of New Hampshire cooperative extension, Corps members run "4-H Gone Wild!" and "4-H Gone Wild in the Garden!" programs for children at Girls Inc., Families in Transition, and 21st Century Community Learning Center. Corps Members also mentor local youth at the Salvation Army Community Center on Cedar Street during Kids Cafe and Teen Night.
In preparation for this assignment, Corps members attended workshops at Amoskeag Fishways, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and Massabesic Audubon, while working closely with staff from the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension.