Getting teens into the environment

[Hawk]

Hey people

I had an eco council meeting at my school today and only one person turned up.

Does anyone know how to get teenagers into the idea of being eco-friendly and motivated to do eco-friendly things such as recyling paper?

Hawk

[rscott74]

While I don't know the answer, shouldn't the staff help? Ecology must be part of the curriculum. Perhaps the 2 of you could offer your help to teachers to produce a teen friendly lesson. Use it as a base to get more people interested in the eco council.

Also you might try local paper - I think they would be interested in your story. If you do this make sure you have a message and are not diverted by reporters - a few interesting facts and figures are always helpful particularly if they are local. Do it with your colleague. The paper will probably want a photo so plan something that has impact eg at an area that is threatened or holding a specimen that's endangered.

Let us know how you get on and good luck.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Hawk

Hey people

I had a eco council meeting at my school today and only one person turned up.

Does anyone know how to get teenagers into the idea of being eco-friendly and motivated to do eco-firendly things such as recyling paper?

Hawk

In answer to your question I would offer the well known bit of Irish wisdom: A tourist lost on a country road stops to ask a farmer “Can you tell me how to get to Dublin ?” to which the reply is “Well I wouldn’t start from here”.

The first thing I would recommend is that even if you have to work with an age specific target group, you nevertheless talk about “young people” as opposed to “teens”. Teen just has too many negative connotations when it’s used by an ‘older’ person.

Expecting young people to become involved in something ‘worthy’ is hopeless – you may as well start a “Just say no to drugs” group, or a “No sex before marriage” group. You may get a few committed individuals but they are going to be precisely the ones who are unable to communicate the message to their peers.

If you are going to involve young people you have got to provide something that provides them with a personal advantage – appealing to the future of the planet will not cut it. I think you need to go to some of the National Youth organisations for some basic info on how to provide services that involve young people – the key phrase I guess will be “empowerment”.

And off the top of my head – if you are working in schools then you do have a ready resource in the students, they are the best positioned to communicate a message to their contemporaries, perhaps going to the Art & Design department, English department and IT department and see if they will take on design an communication projects based around the message you are trying to get across. Design a poster, write an advertisement, create a web page etc.

Good luck

CM

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Cotham Marble

the key phrase I guess will be “empowerment”.
CM

Ah yes - empowerment. One of those horrible modern words that is used so often, and means so little

henrya

[rscott74]

I found CM's response, in part, a bit negative - even getting "a few committed individuals" together would be a good thing. Perhaps contact with local youth services and environmental organisations would be a good thing but Hawk and any young colleagues must avoid being controlled by oldsters.
I'd like to hear from Hawk again about his future plans as I'm sure WAB members could also offer more advice and assistance.

[Hawk]

My school is on a spilt site so the junior pupils are spilt from the senior pupils.
There is a meeting tomorrow (28th Sept) at the senior building to see if any senoir pupils are interested. Hopefullly more will turn up this time. Il keep you posted on how things go.

Il speak to my year head with your ideas and bring them forward at the meeting.

Thanks for all your help

Hawk

[rscott74]

Hope things go well. I'm looking forward to hearing what happens. The City of Sunderland's motto is nil desperandum (don't dispair) - I'm sure your efforts will pay dividends,

[September]

I'm thinking the key to youngsters become involved with the environment is to bring it into their awareness at a young age. This applies to both education and parents. At a very young age in primary school, my class was taken into a local wood and taught at a very basic level about the trees (eg, 'draw this tree's leaf - this is a sycamore tree. Trees produce oxygen...and so on). We also encountered herbs and animals, finding much delight in the squirrels as I remember! I still visit this wood today on occasion. Sadly, I think my school was in a minority in this regard.

I applaud your efforts and think that people like you, my primary school teachers and probably every member of this board are important in a culture shift that is much needed. Environmental issues need to be raised and taught by schools, parents, the media and role-models. If we can show younger people what is out there in non urbanised/industrialised Britain, they will at least have a chance to love it, and naturally want to protect it. A long, slow process this is, but look how things have changed in the years since the industrial revolution. Keep pluggin' away!

Edit: as an afterthought, perhaps the more cynical people would find more enthusiasm in doing something proactive rather than reactive. Eg; instead of (or preferably as well as!) recycling, they could be getting involved in campaigns that put pressure on businesses/politicians for reductions in unnecessary packaging.

[Hawk]

yay! more people have shown an interest!
We had 20 pupils turn up to the meeting on Firday. They all have ideas so hopefully something good will come out of the eco council instead of just "a few committed individuals".

Some of the pupils were suggesting getting the local shops into helping the school become eco-friendly. Ask tesco to give bins for recyling plastic bags and get plants from the local gardening centre were a few suggestions.

Il keep you posted

Hawk

[rscott74]

Well done. I hoped things would turn out OK. A group of 10 - 20 should be able to get things done. As I said earlier don't be frightened of a bit publicity - good for the cause, your school and young people. Keep at it and keep us posted.

[Blackbrook Eye]

Hi Hawk, I am pleased that things have looked up for your project, could a part of the problem be that teachers are reluctant to take students off campus, for field trips etc. due to the responsibilities and organisatoin involved and would it be a good idea to raise this issue with the staff members at your next neeting. A lot more can be learned by seeing than by talking in a classroom, but it requires a bit more commitment from the teaching fraternity and also means that teachers are required to know a bit more than book learning, you never know they may learn something from yourself and others like you.

[rscott74]

Perhaps Hawk and his colleagues could organise something on their own, there appears to be a lot of things of potential interest in Fife (see fifedirect - Fife Council go to 'N' for nature sites etc.)
He could also use his contacts from volunteering to organise a visit during the next school holidays. Although the group might be school based it doesn't need to be contolled by staff.

[RobSutton]

I've spent nearly 25 years in Environmental Education - mostly with teenagers, and one thing I would say is that the seeds you sow now may take years to germinate but the time and effort you put in do have an effect - it may just not be apparent immediately.

[rscott74]

Hawk you and your group might be interested in 'Kids Section' thread.