Washington’s OSPI Natural Science, Wildlife and 575 4th and 5th graders participated in
Environmental Education Grant
lessons 1-3, and 42 more went through the
summer service learning component.
Raising Awareness Through
Goals of the Program
The goal of this program was to
raise awareness amongst elementary age
Service Learning:
children of the everyday issues surround-
ing the health of local waters. Further, the
Citizens for a Healthy Bay’s Junior Bay Ranger Program
goal was to connect students more closely
with the impact of stormwater pollution
by experiencing first hand how people
and animals are affected by pollution.
By Katrina Landau
about stormwater pollution prevention in
Finally, the lessons brought in the impor-
one neighborhood in Tacoma based on So-
tant and unique component of service
I
n 2003, the Washington State Legis-
cial Marketing methodology (see CLEAR-
learning. Service learning is a method
lature passed ESHB 1466 that estab-
ING, Spring 2006). The most successful
of teaching, learning and reflecting that
lished the Natural Science, Wildlife
part of this multi faceted educational
combines academic classroom curriculum
and Environmental Education Partner-
campaign was the classroom lessons
with meaningful service throughout the
ship Grant program under the Washing-
that taught the messages of individual
community.
ton State Office of the Superintendent
responsibility and ownership of the envi-
As a teaching method, this program
of Public Instruction (OSPI). In the
ronment. In fact, out of all of the differ-
was designed to be taught through expe-
2005-2006 inaugural year, Citizens for a
ent forms of community education, the
riential education and to integrate mean-
Healthy Bay (CHB), a Tacoma based 501c3
classroom lessons were rated the “Most
ingful community service with instruc-
organization, was one of the recipients.
Useful” by respondents of a survey sent
tion and reflection. When combined as a
This innovative partnership was
out to over 5000 households in the area.
cohesive and logical educational series,
created to promote “proven and innova-
As a result, this became the core of the
this program enriched the total learning
tive natural science, wildlife and environ-
2005-2006 program, with the addition of
experience, encouraged lifelong civic
mental education programs that include
a field trip and an optional summer camp
responsibility, and reinforced the concept
instruction about renewable resources,
type program involving both field trips
that the children themselves can have a
responsible use of resources and conser-
and service learning. CHB partnered
direct impact on the health of Commence-
vation.”
with four Tacoma Elementary schools:
ment Bay and Puget Sound.
Stanley Elementary, Jenny Reed Elemen-
In 2004-2005 CHB staff partnered
tary, Pt. Defiance Elementary, and
Lesson #1 - “Down the
with the
Lister Elementary. A total of
City of
Storm Drain: Where
Tacoma
does the flow go?”
to do an
The
intensive
educators
educational
program
Page 28 http://www.clearingmagazine.org Clearing - 2009 Compendium Edition
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