The document describes several environmental education programs offered in Humboldt County, California. The Friends of the Dunes programs immerse 3rd-6th grade students and 9th-12th grade biology classes in the habitats of Humboldt Bay and dunes through hands-on activities. The Talk About Trees program educates elementary school students about forest resources through classroom presentations and activities. The Wonders of the Wetlands program teaches 5th graders about wastewater treatment through presentations and a field trip. The Freshwater Elementary School Environmental Education Day program explores planetary orbits and interstellar galaxies through outdoor rotating stations. The March for Parks event develops environmental education for 5th graders with themes on plant and animal relationships.

1. Environmental Education Experience
What we see changes what we know, what we know changes what we see.
~Jean Piaget
Friends of the Dunes: Bay to Dunes Discovery Program
60-hour Internship
Designed for 3rd through 6th grade students, the Bay to Dunes program
immerses students in Humboldt Bay and dune habitats through a variety of fun
and educational activities and games, including animal tracking, plant
identification and the removal of invasive European beachgrass.
Friends of the Dunes: Ma-le’l Future Conservationists
Designed for 9th through 12th grade biology classes, the Future
conservationists program introduces students to the dynamic Ma-le’l dune
ecosystem through the use of the scientific method. Students learn about tools for
conserving and protecting biodiversity, scientific monitoring, environmental
restoration, and potential careers in those respective fields.
Talk About Trees (TAT)
The TAT program is a classroom science presentation dedicated to educating
elementary school students and teachers about the responsible management and
use of California’s forest resources.
As a member of the Redwood Chapter of Environmental Educators and
Interpreters (RCEEI) at Humboldt State University, I presented and facilitated a
one-hour TAT program on a regular basis in Humboldt County classrooms to
provide 3rd - 6th grade students with hands-on activities focusing on photosynthesis,
tree identification and function, as well as the products, or “gifts”, that trees
provide.

2. Wonders of the Wetlands (WOW)
WOW is an environmental education curriculum focusing on how the City of
Arcata uses conventional wastewater treatment along with natural processes of
constructed wetlands to turn wastewater into a resource.
Our teaching groups used knowledge of learning theories and skills of
interpretation for children to present the WOW program to 30 5th graders. The two
session program consisted of a 50-minute class presentation and concluded with a
two-hour fieldtrip to the Arcata Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Freshwater Elementary School Environmental Education (EE Day)
EE Day is a science based exploration and discovery program we developed
for Freshwater Elementary School 3rd and 4th graders.
Our interpretive theme of the half-day program was “Discover your Place
through the Movements of Space,” and emphasized moon stages, planetary orbits as
well as interstellar galaxies. Our three student sub-group developed an activity
that supports California State Content Standards and Environmental Principles
and Concepts, and a professional lesson plan modeled after Project Learning Tree.
The program was presented as a rotating station to children in an outdoor school
setting.
March for Parks
March for Parks is the largest Earth Day event for children. The annual one-
day environmental education program for 5th grade students is developed and run
by our Interpretation club, the Redwood Chapter of Environmental Educators and
Interpreters (RCEEI).
Our programs theme for March for Parks 2015 was Plants and Animals
Survive, while their Relationships with Nature Thrive. My station titled
Anastomoses, You’re Connected, was designed to open students eyes to the
importance of the symbiotic relationships between Fungi and plant roots taking
place in the soils beneath their feet.