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Program Description

 

Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force staff is readily available to provide training and professional development for educators. Besides the training we provide on-site project support, local environmental resources networking, and continuing professional development.

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Earth Force CAPS –Community Action and Problem Solving, a program that enables youth to identify and research an environmental issue in their community and then develop and implement a sustainable action plan to address the issue takes on different forms:

Classroom Programs
CAPS is offered as a program to be implemented in schools. Earth Force staff assist educators to develop plans to integrate the program into the curriculum. Students gain the greatest benefit if Earth Force CAPS is used across the curriculum, involving science, language arts and social studies. An Earth Force project can addresses the PA Academic Standards in Environment and Ecology, as well as Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking, Civics and Government, and Geography.

High School Programs
One way to offer Earth Force CAPS to high school students is a through a junior watershed association. LEA Earth Force formed the Jr. PLEWA (PA Lake Erie Watershed Association) for Erie County to provide challenging educational opportunities and projects to address key watershed issues especially related to non-point sources of pollution. The High School students of Jr. PLEWA work for the protection, restoration, enhancement and sustainable development of the Lake Erie watershed through water quality monitoring and assessment, as well as educate others about watershed issues and inspire youth to become stewards of the environment. With this program the high schools form a chapter in their school which conducts an Earth Force project and also sends some representatives to the Jr. PLEWA steering committee. The steering committee facilitates a project as well..

Earth Force After School
This program engages youth in community action and environmental problem solving through a program specifically designed for implementation in after-school program settings. The self-contained kits lead youth through a step-by-step process.

  • Community-based Programs
    LEA Earth Force offers Earth Force After School in community-based organizations such as the Neighborhood Art House in Erie, PA, the Housing Authority of the City of Erie and the Human Services Center in Turtle Creek.
  • Earth Force in the Neighborhood
    LEA Earth Force is an AmeriCorps Vista site. Our Vista volunteer will take the Earth Force After-School Program into an area of the inner-city.


Teacher Workshop Series
Throughout the year, LEA Earth Force offers various workshops to educators in Erie County and in Pittsburgh, which are open to the public, but free of charge to Earth Force member schools. In the summer, LEA Earth Force offers also a teacher institute with DCNR and PA Seagrant called "No Child Left Inside" Other workshops may include topics such as Waste Management and Watersheds or Project Wild and Project WET.