Teaching Responsible Earth Education

T.R.E.E.'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE CHILDREN AND ADULTS ABOUT THE LIFE SCIENCE PROCESSES THAT GOVERN OUR PLANET, TO INSPIRE THEM TO APPRECIATE THE NATURAL WORLD, AND TO MOTIVATE THEM TO PROTECT IT. THE MISSION IS ACCOMPLISHED BY CONDUCTING COMPREHENSIVE ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

LOST TREASURES IS A SCHOOL-BASED, SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS THAT WAS PILOTED BY T.R.E.E IN 2020. ABOUT 150 THIRD GRADE CHILDREN, 60% OF WHICH ARE MINORITY AND/OR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED,BENEFITED FROM ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF SCIENCE EDUCATION BECOMING ENVIRONMENTALLY LITERATE, IMPROVING ACADEMICALLY, AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR ABILITY TO AFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ESTABLISH AN EMPOWERING, SCHOOL CURRICULUM -INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR YOUNGER TUDENTS PROPELLING THEIR AWARENESS OF PROBLEMS LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE INJUSTICES THEY CREATE. CHILDREN BECOME CHARACTERS IN THEIR OWN STORY WHERE THEY RECEIVE PROCLAMATIONS TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES AND WORK TOGETHER, AND DISCOVER TASKS IN A LIFE-SIZED TREASURE CHEST IN THEIR CLASSROOM. THEY LEARN ABOUT THE ANIMAL, MINERAL AND PLANT KINGDOMS AND HOW THEY INTERACT AND DEPEND ON ECOSYSTEMS.

T.R.E.E. EDUCATORS WORKED WITH A TEACHER AND HER GREEN CLUB OF 7TH AND 8TH GRADE STUDENTS AT WEST FELICIANA PARISH MIDDLE SCHOOL TO CREATE A FOREST EXPLORATION AND IMMERSION SET OF ACTIVITIES TO COMPLEMENT A TREE PLANTING PROJECT. T.R.E.E. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS A GUEST SPEAKER AT A TULANE UNIVERSITY CLASS.

T.R.E.E.S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EARTHKEEPERS, SUNSHIP EARTH, AND SUNSHIP III PROGRAMS PROVIDES 4TH, 5TH, AND 7TH GRADE STUDENTS WITH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ADVENTURES THAT TEACHES THEM ABOUT THE SCIENCE CONCEPTS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY, AND GIVES THEM THE CONFIDENCE NECESSARY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR OWN LIVES AND IN OTHERS, ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE PROTECTION OF OUR PLANET EARTH. EARTHKEEPERS IS A 3-DAY PROGRAM WHERE STUDENTS TRAVEL EACH DAY TO A FORESTED JEAN LAFITTE NATIONAL PARK, AND EARN K.E.Y.S. SYMBOLIZING THE STEPS OF THEIR JOURNEY. PARTICIPANTS EARNED THEIR K (KNOWLEDGE) AND E (EXPERIENCE) KEYS BY ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FOLLOWING SLIPPERY SALLY, A WATER SPECK (MOLECULE) ON ADVENTURES THROUGH THE WATER CYCLE. THEY CONNECTED WITH NATURE THROUGH IMMERSIVE ACTIVITIES LIKE FINDING, NAMING, AND DESCRIBING THE PERFECT WIND DANCER, A LEAF DROPPED FOR ALL TO SEE HOW IT DISTINCTIVELY FLOATS THROUGH THE AIR. WHEN STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL THEY EARN THEIR Y AND S (YOURSELF AND SHARING) KEYS BY (1)REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY AND MATERIALS THEY USE OR WASTE; (2) SHARING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES WITH YOUNGER STUDENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS; AND (3) CONTINUING TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD THROUGH SOLITUDE, OBSERVATION, DISCOVERY, AND WRITING. T.R.E.E. EDUCATORS PREPARED TO CONDUCT ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DUE TO COVID-19 AND HURRICANE IDA.