EarthCARE Students in Action
View
a T.V. interview (7mb QuickTime) from Ottawa's The New
RO with EarthCARE lead teacher Kelly Lee, and students Lynne
Bosquet and Katherine Lapointe.
Check out pictures from the EarthCARE Fair with special
guest Dr. David Suzuki
gallery 1 gallery
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Environmental stewardship and sustainability through youth
engagement
EarthCARE is an activity-based, curriculum-aligned environmental
education program designed to develop students and staff as
environmental stewards. Our unique student engagement process
involves youth as action-oriented leaders who not only develop
their own awareness but also act as catalysts for increasing
their school, community and region's awareness to encourage
energy savings and conservation.
The EarthCARE program is currently part of the curriculum in
the following school districts.
Read grade 11 student, Andrea deBruijn's summary
of the Ottawa-Carleton EarthCARE catalyst training program.
Transforming Awareness Into Action
The EarthCARE program focuses on energy conservation,
waste reduction, and water conservation. This focus offers the
greatest opportunity to develop students and staff as environmental
stewards while aligning the program with the curriculum. Even
the most basic behavioural change in these areas (such as turning
lights and computers off, encouraging recycling and identifying
dripping taps) greatly improves the school's environmental impact.
Read more about the processes EarthCARE employs to inspire behavioural
change amongst its participants.
- Conversion of wasted
energy dollars to program value
- Reduced energy consumption
- Pride and ownership of their school environment
- More visible Board profile as a leader
- Improved efficiency of building operations
Learn more
There are six components in the EarthCARE program; they ensure
success at the board level and help to build a robust framework
among all EarthCARE participants.
- Project Partnership System
- In-School Program
- Building Operators Training Program
- Incentive/Recognition Plan
- Quality Assurance Plan
- Communications Plan
Learn about all the unique
components that can be customized to your board's need to
make EarthCARE successful.
EarthCARE leverages the following three critical elements to
produce a multi-layered delivery concept:
- Youth Engagement
- Custodial Engagement
- Project Partnership System
Find out more about EarthCARE implementation
and delivery.
The core of EarthCARE rests in the hands of those in the schools
to make a difference in how we treat our environment. The In-school
Program component has been designed to enhance the curriculum
and actively involve our youth while recognizing the different
needs at different age levels.
- Curriculum Alignment
- Youth Engagement
- Connection with the Child's World
- Developing the Whole Student
- Communication and Celebration
Learn more about these five points which make up the EarthCARE
In-School component.
Each lesson and activity, across all grade levels, in the EarthCARE
program is focused around one of these core themes:
- Energy - efficiency in how we use electricity, gas
and oil
- Waste - recycling is good, reduction is great
- Water - identify waste and act on it
These program themes represent the greatest opportunity for
student-led change and for real environmental value. Visit the
Lessons & Activities section
to see and download sample lesson plans and activities showing
how these and other important environmental topics are being
addressed in EarthCARE.
Are you a student, teacher, facilities manager, administrator,
or board member who is interested in getting involved with the
EarthCARE program? Find out how!
