MWEE School of Excellence Award
-- Hambright Elementary School, Penn Manor School District, Millersville, Lancaster County: In 2021, Penn Manor teachers Katie Harnish and Brad Showalter implemented the first Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) in the Shared Waters led by Millersville University and Virginia Wesleyan University. This collaborative project geographically spans the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
It impacts students through teacher professional development and classroom implementation, while training the next generation of teachers by embedding MWEE instruction into undergraduate teacher education programs at Millersville and Virginia Wesleyan.
Hambright Elementary School students collected water quality data at a nearby creek through biotic and abiotic surveys and determined that the creek was healthy, though more could be done to further improve it.
After learning more about how little of the water on the planet can be used by humans, and how much of this is wasted, Mrs. Harnish’s class issued a challenge to the rest of the school to increase water conservation.
An awareness campaign included PSA videos shown during announcements, posters placed around the school, and an art installation of 82-gallon jugs illustrating the average amount of water per day Americans use.
Mr. Showalter’s class also participated in the field experience at the nearby creek. Students learned how stormwater runoff can impact water quality of local water bodies. The students then walked the school grounds to identify areas with stormwater runoff issues as well as identify the various ways school personnel and community members use the campus.
This prompted an exploration of groundwater, storm water systems, stormwater management, and an in-depth exploration of stormwater runoff impacts.
MWEE Partner in Excellence Award
-- Friends of the Heinz Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum Marsh, Philadelphia: All fourth graders from Patterson and Penrose Elementary Schools (150 students) participated in the Philly Nature Kids program of Friends of the Heinz Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum Marsh.
Environmental education supervisor Brianna Amingwa and environmental education specialists Kelly Kemmerle and Kelly Quain at the refuge are recognized for this exemplary program.
Students received 19 hands-on, inquiry-based environmental education lessons (9 field trips and 10 classroom lessons) and assistance to create student-designed stewardship projects focusing on the Delaware Watershed.
Projects included installing additional trash and recycling cans and planting trees in their schoolyard and planning and implementing a clean-up at the refuge.
Students presented their projects through posters, video messages, and PowerPoints to a panel of stakeholders, including school administration, refuge staff, Friends of the John Heinz Refuge, and a representative from DEP Environmental Education Center.
Following collaboration with Riverbend Environmental Education Center that led to the implementation of their Nature-Based STEMP program, the formal educators gained skills and understanding of outdoor teaching and learning as well as a skill set in the development of a MWEE.
Carmichael High School Watershed Experience
A well-constructed MWEE engages students in four essential elements: issue definition, outdoor field experiences, synthesis and conclusions, and environmental action projects. Carmichael Area High School in Greene County presents an excellent example, crafted by teacher Kevin Willis, who shares this report. Read more here.
Other Environmental Ed Initiatives
These other environmental education initiatives were profiled in DEP’s newsletter--
-- Philadelphia Solar Energy Association: Students show what a clean energy future looks like
-- Discovery Pathways: Teens in south Philadelphia learn to become watershed leaders
-- Mountain Watershed Association: Water Guardians learn in the field
Other Features
-- Recent DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants to benefit students
-- Join in: Pennsylvania Native Species Day, May 18
-- State Environmental Education Standards Update
-- Harrisburg Falcons Have Laid Their Eggs
-- Keep PA Beautiful - PA Fights Dirty
-- Professional Development Opportunities
Click Here to read the entire newsletter. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.
Visit DEP’s Teaching Green webpage to learn about more environmental education resources. Questions should be directed to 717-772-1828 or send email to: ra-eplearningcenter@pa.gov.
Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for educational activities happening near you.
Visit the PA Environment Digest Calendar Of Events for more opportunities.
For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter, sign up for DEP Connects events, sign up for DEP’s eNotice, visit DEP’s Blog, Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.
(Photo: Friends of the Heinz Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum Marsh.)
Related Article:
-- DCNR State Parks Environmental Education Update - Earth Week Edition [PaEN]
[Posted: April 19, 2023] PA Environment Digest
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