Proposal
Adventure
in the Trees:
Environmental
Education In, For, and About the
Adventure in the Trees: Environmental Education In, For, And
About the Forest Ecosystem will provide an opportunity for school-aged students
to explore various interdisciplinary forest ecosystem and other topics that are
enhanced by a visit to the canopy of a mature and thriving tree. The idea for combining recreational tree
climbing and interdisciplinary environmental education is unique. Dedication to teaching about the forest at
local facilities is the basis for a partnership between Lockerly
Arboretum, GC&SU Outdoor Education academic programs, Vision of E.Y.E.
(Experiential Youth Education), Tree Climbing
Broadly stated, our vision is to develop curriculum that
will support the Georgia Department of Education Quality Core Curriculum
requirements in subject areas that are enhanced through the direct and
purposeful study of forest ecosystems.
This is a unique interdisciplinary environmental education experience
for students because a primary component of the lesson will take place in the
canopy of a tree that has been certified for recreational climbing by a
licensed arborist. Students
"climb" the tree on a safe rope system endorsed for recreational tree
climbing by Tree Climbing
Lockerly Arboretum (see
enclosures) is a working educational laboratory with over 6000 different
species. Lockerly
works closely with public and private school system teachers to offer the
opportunity for direct study of forest ecosystems and classroom and support
facilities. Its staff brings to this
project the expertise and training to support the curriculum development
component of this project.
The Vision of E.Y.E (see enclosure) is the official
Educating students to be leaders in the delivery of safe,
environmentally sound, and effective outdoor education opportunities is a
central goal of Georgia College & State University Outdoor Education academic
programs. To this end, students are
required to complete courses environmental science, environmental education,
and curriculum development. Graduate and
undergraduate students assist Dr. Harriett Whipple (Professor of Biology) with
the Science Education Team (SET) program.
Outdoor Education students work through the
The partnership that is the foundation of this proposal is
between educators and resource managers.
It offers several advantages that will help ensure that the initial
three-year project will have long-term outcomes. We are all very well connected to a diverse
network of schools, youth groups, content experts, and professional agencies
and associations. We are professional
educators with a broad range of expertise to support this project. The organizations and institutions that we
represent are well established and highly recognized for their efforts to
develop and implement environmental education programs. We are well established in
The project is based on several guiding principles that we believe are important for educational experiences to be significant contributors to the development of a sustainable society. We believe that:
- The learner must be an active participant rather than a spectator.
- Learning occurs when carefully chosen experiences are supported by reflection, critical analysis, and synthesis.
- Learning must have present as well as future relevance for learners and the society in which they will participate.
- Learners must be actively engaged in posing questions, investigating, experimenting, solving problems, assuming responsibility, being creative, and constructing meaning from first hand experiences.
- Learning takes place when the learner, the teacher, and the "things" to be learned are present.
- Learning should be an exciting, adventurous process.
Project Outcomes
1. The development (tree preparation) and
arborist certification of two teaching sites at Lockerly
Arboretum and
2. The development and pilot implementation of interdisciplinary curricula for grades 4/5, 6/7, and 10/11. GC&SU Outdoor Education students will develop curriculum themes and materials in cooperation with Lockerly Arboretum and Bartram Forest staff. The initial curricula will be expanded each year in these classes and in conjunction with teacher training opportunities.
3. Facilitators will be trained in the technical components of the curriculum. Ongoing training will be offered to teachers from across the state through the GC&SU Continuing Education to ensure a sustainable instructor pool of GC&SU students and public school teachers.
4. The development of technical policy and
procedures for tree climbing in educational settings. Tree climbing will be added to GC&SU
Outdoor Education Standard Operating Procedures where it will be implemented,
reviewed and revised as necessary to maintain compliance with the Association
for Experiential Education accreditation standards.
5. The development of an information package for educators.