Afterschool programs with Pine Jog EE Center

Instead of having a traditional youth group, for my project I went out to various underprivileged elementary schools and after-school organizations to teach a curriculum on water conservation. I did this in conjunction with Pine Jog graduate students, and I went out to the sites with them and assisted.

The first few sessions acted as training for me to learn the curriculum, and after that I gradually assumed an active teaching role. The program, called Conservation Crew, was divided into three sessions. The first focused on water use in Florida and the Everglades. We brought out a model of a town, and showed how rainwater runs pollution off into the ocean, and how wetlands can help stop that. In the second session, we conduct an audit of their school’s water usage with the students. The third session is by far the children’s favorite: we bring out real sinks and have them try to conserve water while brushing their teeth, washing their hands, and washing dishes. In addition, through this program the students will be attending the Everglades Youth Conservation Camp during the summer free of charge.

Overall, the program was a great success. Students looked forward to us coming, and were sad to see us leave. They especially enjoyed playing with the sinks and doing other hands on activities. After interviewing students, the vast majority said that they would apply our conservation techniques to their lives and tell others about them. It was highly rewarding to see such a difference in attitude over the course of this project.