Environmental Education

We are regularly reminded of the steady decline of our environment. Children especially are told to be conscientious, or their generation and future generations will be in danger.

The question is; are children being educated, or nagged? It is important for children to see what physically makes up the environment.

Many schools in New Jersey are taking a step in the right direction. Schools are organizing Environmental Education trips so the students can step away from video games and get their hands dirty.

In Sussex County, Fairview Lake YMCA is not only a summer camp and weekend recreation spot, but also an EE facility. In one school week up to three hundred students may come through the gates at Fairview.

The students range in age from kindergarten to college. The classes are designed to get the students outside and give them a hands on way to enjoy what is around them.

It’s important for the kids to not only learn, but also to see how the environment works. With that in mind Fairview facilitates various classes including, stream ecology, a swamp walk, and a 3 mile hike get the students up close to different animals and eco systems. They also offer a paper making class, in which the students learn how to make paper from recycled newspaper.

Students coming from cities have sometimes never been in the woods before. The hands on atmosphere of EE is undoubtedly a positive experience for these children. However, what happens when the students go home?

Are these children seeing positive examples in the home and community? Children need to see what their impact is on the environment. The easiest things for a family and a community to demonstrate to it’s youth are the 3 R’s. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

According to the NJ Solid and Hazardous Waste Program, Sussex County set a fair example. In 2005 the county recycled a total of 48.5% of all recyclable material.

Education programs and good examples are just steps in the process of educating children on the environment that surrounds them. It is important for families and communities to be consistent so children can get a good picture of the impact they can have.