Behind the Scenes at TREE - Teaching Responsible Earth Education

Teaching Responsible Earth Education
Seasonal Newsletter
Spring 2004
Behind the Scenes at T.R.E.E.
Traditionally, the T.R.E.E. newsletter has been written by our staff. For this edition, we asked one of our
participating teachers to write about her experiences with our programs. Stacie Champagne, also known as
Rainbow, has participated in both Sunship Earth™ and Earthkeepers™. Her fourth grade class from Carver
Elementary in Hahnville came to Earthkeepers in January. It was Rainbow’s third time at Earthkeepers.
There are many reasons why I take my students to
Earthkeepers. The most obvious reason, of course, is that it is a
valuable learning tool. The staff at Earthkeepers does an
amazing job of taking difficult adult concepts and presenting
them in ways that are simple for a child’s mind to understand.
The students return to the classroom with an excitement about
science that is unmatched through any other teaching
strategies. After returning from the Earthkeepers program,
teaching science became something that I can honestly say I
enjoy doing. The students’ interest level was elevated through
the success they found during the trip. Concepts and skills that
I struggled to develop in a regular classroom were instantly
understood in the living classroom presented at Earthkeepers.
If there had been any doubt in my mind about the
success of Earthkeepers, it was erased after the LEAP test last
year. I was thrilled, but not surprised, to find that there was not
a student in my class who failed the science portion of the
LEAP. The kids were exuberant as they discovered that the
things they did at Earthkeepers were on the test. It was their
first realization that the fun “games” they played were truly
learning experiences. In fact, when asked to write about their
favorite day at school, over half of my students chose to write
about their Earthkeepers trip. This solidified my commitment
to keeping the program a part of my curriculum.
-Stacie Champagne
Rainbow and Firefly enjoying
"Seasons" at Earthkeepers in Jean
Lafitte National Park.
Theresa shows off her Whiff
Sniffer at Earthkeepers.
t.r.e.e. 1463 Nashville Ave New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 895-2772
Fax: (504) 269-8316 e-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.treetalk.org
Growing Our
The Junior League of New Orleans and T.R.E.E. have teamed up for a second
year of providing the Earthkeepers™ program for students from Dr. Charles
Drew Elementary. The program utilizes the beautiful and natural wetlands
area of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve: Barataria Unit along
with interactive and highly educational activities to give students a complete
outdoor science learning experience.
T.R.E.E.’s
Board of Directors
President
Erin McNutt
Registered Stock
Broker Raymond
James and
Associates
Vice President
Janet Parrish
Registered Nurse
Center for Better
Living
Secretary
Students from this inner-city school were excited but a little fearful of this new
environment. With the help of Junior League volunteers and T.R.E.E. staff,
the students quickly found out how fun and interesting nature and science can
be. Students learned academic concepts equal to one-third of the state content
standards for science while participating in a highly memorable experience.
Patrice Trudeau
Printer
Moret Press, Inc.
Treasurer
Santi Adams
Owner
Ad Concepts, Inc.
Members of the
Board
Cheetah and young Earthkeepers in
training experience how all living
things on the earth are connected.
Palmetto leads her
Earthkeepers in training on
the journey of an air speck.
Junior League volunteers were with the students every step of the way, helping
them through the activities and sharing in all of the fun. The program would
not have been such a big success without the great help of these dedicated
volunteers and Junior League funding. However, the program is far from
complete. Beginning in March, T.R.E.E. staff and Junior League volunteers
will be presenting a six week, in-school follow-through program that gives
these students the tools to apply what they have learned in their schools,
communities and homes. T.R.E.E. is hoping to expand this program next year
to include all fourth grade classes from Dr. Charles Drew Elementary.
Jeffery Borchardt
Landscape Architect
Design Consortium,
LTD
Gilbert Buras
Attorney at Law
Delores Davis
Retired Teacher
Jean Gordon
Elementary School
Christophe Szapary
Attorney at Law
Oats and Hudson
Water
Calm, Peaceful
Moving, Flowing, Glowing
Beautiful, Reflecting, Gigantic, Tall
Standing, Heightening, Freshening
Strong, Silent
Trees
My daughter will always
remember this
adventure. She said
she felt that the 5 days
at Sunship Earth were
like a dream. She went
to sleep with a smile on
-Amanda, 5th grade
Hynes Sunship Earth
A seed is in the
ground
it sprouts
a seedling
it grows up
a tree
it dies
another seed
is born.
-Miles, 5th grade
Hynes Sunship
Earth
Workers on the Cycle
Factory
What a fantastic
adventure! We’ve had
an amazing tour of Jean
Lafitte and the
Guardians did a great
job
of training us about
cycles, energy flow,
interrelationships, and
change. Thanks!
Ms. Sun is happy to be
shining at Sunship Earth.
Squirrel came from
Germany to observe
T.R.E.E.’s programs.
At Earthkeepers I have had one of the greatest
times in my life! When I go home my mom and
dad are always amazed that I can learn this much
in one day. So am I! I learned
a lot about how to take care of nature and I am
going to start doing those things at home. I think
it will make a big difference!
-Virginia, 4th grade, Lusher Earthkeepers
The wind is blowing. It’s just moving slowly. The
leaves are holy. I can see the river flowing and
when I close my eyes my heart starts glowing.
–Donchelle, 5th grade, Dunbar Sunship Earth
Happy Apprentice
Earthkeepers
T.R.E.E. could not function without our
ever-expanding base of volunteers who
donate their time and talent. What
follows is a list of people who have
volunteered this winter to help make our
programs successful.
T.R.E.E. would like to thank these
generous individuals and foundations
for their gifts of financial support.
Booth-bricker Fund
Cahn Family Foundation
Adele K. Cahn
Michael Carbo
Stella Farwell
Trey Johnson
Lynne Johnson
Junior League of New Orleans
Martha Lackey
Ronnie Lamarque
Nahum Laventhal
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Levert
Martha McKnight
David Mervis
RosaMary Foundation
Shell Oil Company Foundation
LynnE White
LSU Student Environmental Action Coalition:
Sara Henderson Sarah Koenig
Jeff Landrum
Jenny McGibbon
Claudia Lewis
Dan Siegel
Tina Ufford
Chuck Whitman (Beech) for creating beautiful wooden stands for
Sunship Earth class globes.
Lloyd Ambrose (Oak Tree) and Eriel Ambrose (Roots) for cutting
Sunship Earth craft materials.
Jean Lafitte National Park: Barataria Unit
WWL TV’s Sally-Ann Roberts, Tom Planchet, and Erin Stender for
our recent spot on “Our Generation.”
Donna Harper (Tiger) for her continued efforts at re-introducing the
Sunship Earth Po-e-Tree book.
The ARC for continued weekly volunteer sessions.
Volunteers from the Junior League of New Orleans:
Kim Conway Amanda Sibley
Karen Kuebel Frances Gray
Allison Hescock Mickie Merlin
Mary Espey-Healy
Janet Parrish for sewing pouches.
Mary Degnan for typesetting Sunship Earth passports.
The Times-Picayune’s Trey Iles and Chuck Cook for the recent
article in the Uptown Picayune.
Donna Cavato and Parkway Partners for partnering with T.R.E.E.
to create a butterfly garden at Dibert.
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES
We are still looking
for people who can
sew pouches.
All of the following for assistance in planning and implementing a
butterfly garden at Drew School:
Lekoma Akate, Bea Bajorek, & Yvette Cutrer,
Master Gardeners
Tom Campbell & Mahlon Doucet,
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
Libby & Mark Bonner
Nu-Earth Organics
Martin Seafood
Ginger Fortson, LSU Agricultural Extension Service
All the wonderful Crew Leaders for Sunship Earth, chaperones for
Earthkeepers, and teachers from Gordon, Dibert, Drew, Dunbar,
Hynes, Lusher, St. Rita, Lafayette, The Hill School, St. Rose
Primary, and Carver Elementary for taking time to ensure quality
learning experiences for their students.
If you have a sewing machine and
are willing to sew pouches, please
call the T.R.E.E. office at 895-2772.
T.r.e.e. 1463 Nashville Ave New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 895-2772
Fax: (504) 269-8316 e-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.treetalk.org
Teaching responsible earth education
T.R.E.E. programs are quite unique! Participants use their heads, hearts, and hands as they learn life science
concepts. All programs are hands-on experiences in natural settings. They result in a greater understanding of the
Earth’s natural systems, and a commitment to lessen personal impact by living lightly. T.R.E.E. offers several
programs:
Earthkeepers is the 3-day program in which 4th grade students
learn basic life science concepts and explore the natural world. The
content of the program addresses 33% of the state science standards
and 34% o the state language arts standards for 4th graders.
Sunship Earth (Earthkeepers Level II) is the 5-day overnight
program in which 5th-graders experience the amazing processes that
affect life on our planet. Participants are taught major life science
concepts while gaining an appreciation of nature and a motivation to
protect the life systems of our planet. Program content addresses
29% of the state science standards and 42% of the state language
arts standards for 5th graders.
SUNSHIP III is the 3-day, 2 night program for 7th and 8th graders.
During SUNSHIP III students use their knowledge of how the earth
works to examine their perspectives and to make choices about how
they want to live on this planet.
T.R.E.E.’s Mission Statement
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.
t.r.e.e. 1463 Nashville Ave New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 895-2772
Fax: (504) 269-8316 e-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.treetalk.org
T.R.E.E. order and support info
A. Sunship T-Shirt $12
Front
Sleeve
B. Earthkeepers T-Shirt $12
Back
Front
Back
C. T.R.E.E. T-Shirt $15
YES! I want to support t.r.e.e.!
__ $35 buys Sunship Earth “Passports” for a class of 5th graders
Name __________________________________________
__ $50 buys Training Manuals for a class of 4th graders
Address ________________________________________
__ $75 buys Guidebooks/Ledgers for a group of 7th - 8th graders
__ $100 pays for a day of transportation for a class of 4th graders
City ________________State ________Zip ___________
__ $150 buys art supplies for a class of 5th graders
Home Phone ____________ Work Phone ____________
th
__ $225 pays for one 4 grader to attend Earthkeepers
__ $350 pays for one 7th or 8th grader to attend Sunship III
__ $550 pays for one 5th grader to attend Sunship Earth
th
__ $1000 buys 5 days of meals for a class of 5 graders
Fax __________________ E-mail __________________
† PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT BECOMING MORE
INVOLVED WITH T.R.E.E.
If your company has a matching gifts program, please remember
T.R.E.E., a 501(c)(3) Not For Profit Organization.
Contributions to T.R.E.E. are tax deductible!
Order/Support
Size (Adults Only)
Quantity
Price
TOTAL
mail to:
t.r.e.e. 1463 Nashville Ave New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 895-2772
Fax: (504) 269-8316 e-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.treetalk.org
Subtotal
A Note from the Director
Thinking back over nineteen years is amazing. I've been remembering that group of 20 students and 7 parents from
Dibert School going to Sunship Earth in 1985. It was a pioneering step that incredibly has grown into T.R.E.E.- now
serving over 1000 students and 100 adults in 11 different schools through 3 different programs (Earthkeepers™,
Sunship Earth™ and SUNSHIP III™). It's gratifying to realize that some of these students are attending the second or
even third of T.R.E.E.'s programs.
And it isn't just about the statistics. Hearing consistently from students, "I wish this was my school," and being able
to remind them that it is their school is rewarding!!! It is marvelous to watch gardens appear in previously neglected
portions of a Ninth Ward school and know that it
was the students’ learning at our programs that
brought them to life.
We could only do that with the help of the many
caring people, dedicated organizations, and
committed corporations you see listed in each
issue of this newsletter. Please join them by
contributing your time, resources, and expertise so
that many more students and schools can attend
these life-changing programs. It is a remarkable
feeling to be part of it all.
.
Sue E. Brown, Director
Branching Out: Meeting Members of the T.R.E.E. Family
You may not know that the small lizards we see all over the city are
called anoles. They remind Liz Corson that nature can be found
everywhere, if only you take the time to look. Since these lizards
change colors to fit in with their surroundings, their name is a perfect
one for Liz. Anole is one of our newest Earthkeepers staff members.
She has found herself changing colors in many ways over the last
few years. Anole came to New Orleans in 1992 as a Teach for
America teacher. She continued to teach in the public schools here
until December of 2000, when her daughter Maggie was born.
Working with T.R.E.E. is another big change for this flexible teacher.
“I think Earthkeepers is a beginning for a lot of kids - to start
questioning what humans do to the earth. Hopefully, this questioning
of habits leads to changes in habits so more people are recycling or
conserving materials, for example. Hopefully, children talk to their families about what they are
learning, so the program’s influence is that much greater.” We know Anole is sharing what she learns
with her family, and we are delighted to have her helping to make sure that kids all over the New
Orleans area are learning these important lessons.
t.r.e.e. 1463 Nashville Ave New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 895-2772
Fax: (504) 269-8316 e-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.treetalk.org
Calendar of Events
January 2004
6th-8th Earthkeepers- Carver Elementary
21st-23rd Earthkeepers- Hynes Elementary
23rd-25th Sunship III
27th-29th Earthkeepers- Drew Elementary
30th-2/4 Sunship Earth- Dunbar Elementary
February 2004
13th-17th Sunship Earth- Hynes Elementary
18th-20th Earthkeepers- Lusher Elementary
26th-3/1 Earthkeepers- Lusher Elementary
28th
Earthkeepers- Lafayette Elementary
March 2004
3rd-5th Earthkeepers- St.Rita School
6th
Earthkeepers- Lafayette Elementary
19th-23rd Sunship Earth- Lusher Elementary
26th-30th Sunship Earth- Lusher Elementary
April 2004
2nd-6th Sunship Earth- Lusher Elementary
16th-20thSunship Earth- Carver Elementary
23rd-27thSunship Earth- Lusher Elementary
Program Highlight:
It’s hard to believe that the end of the
school year is fast approaching!
Earthkeepers™ and Sunship III™
programs are completed for this year,
and we have a full spring of Sunship
Earth™. We are getting ready to look
ahead to next year. With this in mind,
please call now to reserve your class’s
spot at our programs. If you know a
teacher or a school who would be
interested in learning more about
participating in our programs, please call
the T.R.E.E. office at 895-2772 to set up
an informational meeting. We are
always happy to offer our programs to
new schools and more kids!
If you do not wish to continue receiving this newsletter, please contact us. Thanks!
t.r.e.e. 1463 Nashville Ave New Orleans, LA 70115 (504)895-2772
Fax: (504) 269-8316 e-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.treetalk.org