CLEARING Compendium 2009

the reader of the importance of bringing an
E.E. Resource Guide
understanding of natural systems into our
teaching and learning methods.
ISBN 978-1-4331-0470-1. Published
A selection of environmental education materials, resources
by Peter Lang and available on the web at
and opportunities that you should check out
www.peterlang.com.
See the article “ Hope trumping de-
spair” on page26 of this issue of CLEAR-
Coyote’s Guide
The Learning Garden: Ecology,
Grades 4 and up
to Connecting
Teaching, and Transformation
Gaia Girls; Enter the Earth
with Nature
by Veronica Gaylie
by Lee Welles
©2008 Jon Young and
This is a captivating and inspiring
This is a charming adventure story
Wilderness Aware-
book that tells the story of a campus
along the lines of Harry Potter, but with
ness School.
“learning garden” in British Columbia that
an environmental
begins with simple goals and high ideals
This a book that
message. Filled with
for ecology-based teaching, and ends
needs to be in the pos-
mystery and super-
with a remarkable transformation in the
session of everyone
natural creatures,
attitudes of the student teachers toward
who claims to be, or
one reviewer called it
nature, community, and toward the learn-
aspires to be, an outdoor educator. This
“Harry Potter meets
ing process itself.
book goes to the heart of developing a
Sierra Club.” The
Author Veronica Gaylie is a former
sense of kinship with nature and teaching
book is the winner of
high school English teacher, poet and au-
about connecting to the land and to nature.
the National Outdoor
thor who eloquently describes the history,
The Coyote’s Guide to Connect-
Book Award in 2006
the process, and the
ing with Nature is clearly the book of a
and the iParenting
outcomes of working
lifetime for authors Jon Young, Ellen Haas
Media Award in 2007.
with student teachers
and Evan McGown. It calls on ancient
Published by
in the garden. Through
wisdom and generations of teaching to
Chelsea Green Publishing, Vermont. ISBN
the metaphors of
lay out a path for anyone with a desire to
978-1-933609-01-0.
“garden as environ-
share nature with others. It offers dozens
ment,” “garden as
of activities, stories, songs, and games,
community,” and
River of the
guided by the excitement of discovery, real
“garden as transforma-
West
connections with animals and plans, and
tion,” Gaylie lets us see
There is no
a sense of belonging through knowing our
how important it is for
more powerful or
place on the planet.
teachers to examine their ethical and profes-
iconic natural fea-
Coyote’s Guide can be purchased through
sional responsibility to a sustainable future
ture in the region
the Wilderness Awareness School website at
on this planet.
than the Columbia
www.wilderness awareness .org .
As a guidebook to others wishing to
River. It ties to-
walk this same path, Gaylie provides a
gether our history,
most valuable chapter on Practical Matters,
our commerce, our art, our relationship
STRAW: Video Preview
which includes activities and resources
with the earth. River of the West is a CD
The story of STRAW - Students and
related to teaching and learning in school
package produced by theNorthwest Power
Teachers Restoring a Watershed - is an in-
gardens.
and Conservation Council that tells the
spiring look at a project that demonstrates
This is a book that inspires and informs
story of the Columbia River Basin, includ-
the multi-tiered beneﬁts of community-
based restoration. Not only is an endan-
gered species given a new lease on life, but
Childhood and Nature: Design Principles
kids, teachers and farmers discover how
for Educators
working together to recover habitat knits
by David Sobel
a community while making learning fun.
In this book, noted educator David Sobel articulates
Produced and directed by David Donnen-
the fundamental philosophy of place-based environmental
ﬁeld and Kevin White.
education - one that emphasizes the focus on issues in our
You can ﬁnd the preview of this ﬁlm
backyards and communities to create learning experiences
at the How On Earth website: http://
for students that provide language arts, math, science, and
www.how-on-earth.org/portfolio.html.
social studies lessons as well and problem-solving and criti-
Check it out and be inspired about what a
cal thinking skills. There is no better book for making the
small group of people can do to change the
case for place-based education. ISBN 978-1-57110-741-1 from Stenhouse Publishers.
world...and themselves.
Clearing - 2009 Compendium Edition http://www.clearingmagazine.org Page 43
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