Lansing, MI

Description: Earth Force partners with General Motors and the Woldumar Nature Center to engage Lansing area youth in GREEN (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network), in which young people develop into active citizens who improve conditions in their watersheds now and in the future.

Why We Are Here: Earth Force’s long standing partnership with General Motors prompted the GREEN program’s establishment in Lansing, the mid-Michigan capital established along the banks of the Grand River.

Lansing is located on the Grand River, and its watershed drains an area of 5,572 square miles, including 18 counties and 158 townships. The watershed contributes 22% of the pesticide usage as the largest Lake Michigan watershed within a productive agricultural area.

Lansing’s school districts have experienced budget restrictions in recent years, and therefore programs like GREEN are especially important as an enrichment experience that supplements the core curriculum. The program also introduces students to exciting new careers in environmental fields through the mentoring role of GM employees and other community partners.

Demographics: City of Lansing:

Lansing Public School District - 68% of all students served are receiving free/reduced lunch

18.3% of families were below poverty level throughout Lansing.

According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, the racial composition of Lansing was:

• White: 21.33%

• Black or African American: 13.95%

• Native American: 3.03%

• Asian: 0.14%

• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.00%

• Some other race: 3.11%

• Two or more races: 5.14%

• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 0.56%

Source: American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau. "Lansing, Michigan - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008". Factfinder.census.gov. link. Retrieved 2010.

What We Are Doing: Our partner, General Motors, has had a presence in Lansing for decades, and through their support of the GREEN program Earth Force has been able to develop programming in school districts throughout Lansing, Okemos, Dewitt, Eaton Rapids and Bath. We are now working on building additional partnerships that can support the water monitoring work being done here, including the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative GRAND Learning Network, which leads place-based education in the watershed.

Earth Force History in this Community: Lansing's GREEN program began in 1992 with a grant from the General Motors Corporation (GM). Woldumar Nature Center became the area coordinator in 1995 and carries out the program today with continued support from GM and Earth Force. Three GM local facilities have been active in Lansing and contribute volunteer mentors for water monitoring, and funding for GREEN program materials and partner support.

Number of Youth: 345

Number of Educators: 8

Participating Partners: General Motors – www.gm.com

Woldumar Nature Center - http://www.woldumar.org/programs.php?program=green

GRAND Learning Network - http://www.grandlearningnetwork.org/

Participating School Districts: Lansing Public School District - http://lcsd.k12.ny.us/lcsd/site/default.asp

Dewitt Public School District - http://www.dewittschools.net/

Bath Community Schools - http://bathschools.net/

Eaton Rapids Public School District - http://www.erpsk12.org/

Eaton ISD Career Preparation Center - http://eatonisd.org/schoolservices/careerprep/

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