Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

12
Pathways Official Publication of the New York State Outdoor Education Association • Spring 2011 Pathways Spring 2011 www.nysoea.org • 607.591.6422 Today’s Youth and Nature Awards Ceremony Local vs. imported Foods Spring Is in the air!!

description

Quarterly publication of the NYS Outdoor Education Association

Transcript of Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

Page 1: Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

PathwaysOfficial Publication of the New York State Outdoor Education Association • Spring 2011

Pathways Spring 2011

w w w . n y s o e a . o r g • 6 0 7 . 5 9 1 . 6 4 2 2

• Today’sYouthandNature

• AwardsCeremony

• Localvs.importedFoods

SpringIsintheair!!

Page 2: Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

2 of 12 Pathways Spring 2011

InvitationforArticlesandNews.The PATHWAYS team is always eager to hear from members and publish the articles that they have authored or news or event announcements that they would like to share with fel-low members. We invite you to send your submission for our Summer issue. Simply send us the text with any supporting material -- pictures, newspaper clippings and more. We can receive it in any of the ways listed below.

AdvertisinginPathwaysPATHWAYS welcomes advertisements which will be of interest to the membership of NYSOEA. If you have a product, service, equipment, resource, program, etc. that you would like to share with our membership via an advertisement, we can receive it through any of the following ways:

Email: [email protected]: (607) 753-5982

Materials should be typed. Please include a short biographical section about the author of the article. References cited in the article should be listed at the end of the article, APA style.

(ISSN 1077-5100) PATHWAYS is published four times a year by the New York State Out-door Education Association and is emailed to NYSOEA members. Opinions expressed by contributors are theirs solely and not necessarily those of the Editorial Board of PATHWAYS or of NYSOEA. Advertisements included in PATHWAYS should not be interpreted as en-dorsement of the product(s) by NYSOEA.

A Note from the President

Mail: Darleen M. LieberRef: Pathways Advertisement / ArticleE-334 Park Center, SUNY Cortland RPLS Dept.PO Box 2000 Cortland, NY 13045

Spring is just around the corner. Frozen snow and ice will soon swell our streams and rivers beginning the newness that comes this time each year. Wonderful beginnings are in store for this new season. Our Affiliate members are hosting countless programs our committees are working especially hard. The 43rd Annual Conference, “Partnering and Planning for an Environmentally Literate New York”, has been well planned at Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon and on-line registration is now available. If you don’t regularly get updates to the NYSOEA

website please visit nysoea.org and click on the button to the left that will sign you up. Every time something new gets posted, you get an email to let you know.

Throughout the last couple of years, the Board of Directors has set a foundation for growth in NYSOEA. We have increased communications through regular e-mail updates, social networking sites, and the constant upkeep on our website. We have changed the look of our publications and have cultivated a great group of partnerships. We have also increased our meeting schedule to better serve you. There are many ways to help NYSOEA grow and thrive. Please consider a position on our board or a committee. Take the NYSOEA display information when you travel. Consider chairing or hosting an event. Consider nominating someone for an award, or simply refer someone to our organization for membership.

Wishing you well,MaryLynne

NYSOEAExecutiveBoardPresident MaryLynne Malone

VP Administration Maritza Cuevas

VP Communication Nirmal Merchant

VP Human Resources Tim Stanley

VP Program Rebecca Houser

Secretary Meaghan Boice-Green

Treasurer Elizabeth Van Acker

Office Darleen Lieber

RegionalDirectorsEastern- Amanda Hill & Natalie RiderMetro- Jessica KratzNorthern- Gary ‘Griz’ CaudleWestern- Lauren MakeyenkoCentral- Christina DeCesare

2011AnnualConferenceCommitteeChairsPaul HaiDrona SchroeterTanya MilanoSusan HerethRebecca Houser

PAthwaysJessica Kratz (Editor)Richard Parisio (Poetry Editor)Frank Knight (Member)Nathan Garcia (Layout, Student)Nicole Gatherer (Teacher)Jonathan Duda (Marketing Manager)Snapper Petta (Member)

Page 3: Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

3 of 12Pathways Spring 2011

I wonder what children would say if they had an outdoor experience in which they were asked to find something beautiful. After watching a group of young people texting one another and looking into their cell phone screens, I wondered and feared for them.

I worry about those children and young adults who are star-ing at their technology and missing beauty. We have to give them the chance they need to establish their values in the spiritual, physical, and intellectual realm of what is beautiful to them. This is a highly personal and individual thing, and it involves reality. What can we do to break the isolation that I suspect is rapidly creeping in to block our youth from the beauty of our natural world?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Our concept of beauty changes with time. How do outdoor educators help chil-dren gain access to beauty? We must set the stage by constructing scenarios for future generations to be able to recognize, appreciate, and create lifestyles that can access beauty. Being able to hone in on beauty in nature, art, or in another area, is to be able to create balance and whole-ness within our daily lives.

How does our adult view of beauty jive with the youth we serve? In an article titled “Growing up Digital: Wired for Dis-traction (New York Times- November 21, 2010) Allison, a California high school student, sends and receives 900 text messages a day. She is a member of the “screen genera-tion,” who uses instant messaging. She has become lost in the virtual world. Does Allison spend time looking at clouds or even out the window of her school bus? She is caught in a web of interconnection with other human beings. What about her idea of beauty? Can she be “saved”?

I was recently reminded of the profound impact of nature experiences during an hour-long Thai yoga session, when a continuous string of nature images passed by in my imagination. I had forgotten these “real” experiences. They were stored in my brain and the gentle hands-on massage I

received triggered the release of wonderful memories from years of contact with the outdoors.Outdoor educators are faced with an interesting challenge: internet information versus reality. I offer a practical sug-gestion: Go on a beauty walk with your group. Ask them to find some thing or some place they identify as beauti-ful. This singular directive in itself sets them up to define their idea of beauty. Tell them that whatever they find that they think is beautiful is a secret. Their role is to allow that beautiful scene to soak in as deep as possible so they will remember it. They are to memorize beauty. Don’t require them to share what they have discovered. Do require that cell phones and other electronic devices be turned off, or better yet, be left at home.

Accessing beauty is not about understanding information. It is right-brained. Beauty is the balance against infor-mation. There is a huge gap between the two. Perhaps outdoor educators should rethink the term “Education” in Outdoor Education. Beauty education means going to a beauty parlor (Outdoors) and just looking around. It in-volves using all the senses and Not Thinking. Walk through, don’t stop to explain. Stop and allow your group to either stop with you or keep going. No need to name, measure, list, identify. It is time to stop dissecting the outdoors and experience it as a whole. See a moss patch between surface roots in a wetland bog as a magical, mystical place that doesn’t satisfy a single educational standard in any subject. It is there being what it is. No testing, no questions, no reading assignment. No clipboards with study sheets.

Our role as outdoor educators is changing. We are called to rescue people from their virtual world and reintroduce them to the real world, right beyond our doorsteps, and reveal our interconnected web. We are not the spider in the web, merely a strand in the web.

Tom Stock, life member of NYSOEA since 1969, is a retired science teacher, puppeteer, storyteller, poet, naturalist, grandfather, husband, and soil enthusiast.

BYTomStockBeinginBeauty

Ignimagn atectorem

vitatemped quisquoditis nes cusanto

tatatur, coriossit es sedit, sinum asperum

quati blabore m

olupta illamet landam

erum solor restia n

dam rati cum

etur modis dolectatatas nobitatem

volut alitium

et laborro eum libusto eum

nimi, officil eic tem

essi sandiat em

porpo rectiusant, om

nite dipsandipsbitiandunt eium

eossequi ut re que erspers pidersp elitae res neste officil landis et repuda quo blacestisit lit, quia sitatio.

itia quo volupta tenduci simus a di venim

en imintium

quiati tem

et utem is conseri berem

samet eosam

ad quas et apiti dolupta corain rem

pos ut miliqua ssitae a ium

dunt abo. Liqui omnim

por sunt odiorrunt expliqu istotatur sequi aperesti tem

renimol

ecusciliqui blat.Sed qui aute pra adignat.O

s destrumqui re, quam

usti am alitium

ne cullatint quun-tium

harum ipistrum

quam voluptae sequia nonem

peri dolorum

es dita sequos resecum quatur? Ed ut facesci

oluptae et ut prae ni dolorest hit voluptatur, viti nobitio. M

agnihi litatqu iatiis dollign imoditio dusa andaepudam

que ea vollenda dolupta sim

odite por autempo reperero vel iunt.

Ut velitibus nulparchil is quis dolore m

olut et mincipsa

veTorerspi dusdamu sciatur?

Repra necte con reseque pos es quissitem

nestrum fugit

dolupta tquiae di in eius et volorum hilleni m

periae pelliquos delleni endam

, tentiatestem nam

ex eat fugita volore rerest, con rem

perr uptatem que dolupti nctassi

maiorec erferum

fugitiae vendit quos eium

quam verum

, omm

oluptur mod

minullori ut exerum

secto officil lorpostem

pel im

a atemquo vero dellessum

elias verovidi tem enient alignat

aut facea conse sitiamus eiunti con et, tenti doluptio con

coriosvoluptat.N

ulparum et eos poreror m

ilis aut volor rerro quiaectur?Volupiciis eium

hillupt atibus eos enim volo dolorerum

accaborrum

sapedis qui int faces re cum quat dolm

quodis con con prature laborem

eaque et, sinverit es et ea culparcit ellene num

es prest, corporro et, nonsendam

re veliqui dolut et, que cuscid ut isi ut doloreius, om

nihillabo. Eptius, quis etur?A

s doloresenet idunt eum dolestiatur seriti om

nihilis ipsunt.U

ciur, que voloreius aut ist estemod itiuabori occulpa

rumquam

us mill

auta aut aut laborer feratur empossitae eaquo odi rem

qui-assim

in reptatem que im

usant endicim olectat.

Num

vel et explita solorepe volesciur, con necte rem

dolupta quia idis quo volectas idellup tatem

por am as volorest m

olupturias essitis sint venimolorio

evelent fugitas inci officius

Ignimagn atectorem

vitatemped quisquoditis nes cusanto

tatatur, coriossit es sedit, sinum asperum

quati blabore m

olupta illamet landam

erum solor restia n

dam rati cum

etur modis dolectatatas nobitatem

volut alitium

et laborro eum libusto eum

nimi, offici

eic tem essi sandiat em

porpo rectiusant, omnite dipsan-

dipsbitiandunt eium

eossequi ut re que erspers pidersp elitae res neste officil landis et repuda quo blacestisit lit, quia sitatio.

itia quo volupta tenduci simus a di venim

en imintium

quiati tem

et utem is conseri berem

samet eosam

ad quas et apiti dolupta corain rem

pos ut miliqua ssitae a ium

dunt abo. Liqui om-

nimpor sunt odiorrunt expliqu istotatur sequi aperesti tem

renim

ol ecusciliqui blat.Sed qui aute pra adignat.O

s destrumqui re, quam

usti am alitium

ne cullatint quun-tium

harum ipistrum

quam voluptae sequia nonem

peri dolorum

es dita sequos resecum qu

atur? Ed ut facescioluptae et ut prae ni dolorest hit voluptatur, viti nobitio. M

agnihi litatqu iatiis dollign imoditio dusa andaepudam

que ea vollenda dolupta sim

odite por autempo reperero vel iunt.

Ut velitibus nulparchil is quis dolore m

olut et mincipsa

veOnsecus aut as vendae. Id m

a vellabor moditam

fu-giatu scium

quas eatia ipsunt aute rerionse dolupta consed quasi ut est alianda alite voles quam

us, cus ea sus nos volupta tusapien-dae. B

or aut velis sus alitatemquae non consed endande

lecdendebis utem rem

rero omnim

volorem nusae sam

verum reperovid que cus dipsapis et est proribus, ut rem

sitat quae landi om

nimaio cum

dentemque re pra voluptist ip-

sam autet explique ped ea et m

agnatu ribus, siti rerorum,

non conseque exeroreror maxim

et ad expernam

id et quod et magnihi ctotatus sinusaesci

dolenimporae

eum volorent.

Lesti occabo. Ebisimperia ad m

int velendimus m

odit, sinciatur aut quas sit re, quatem

qui volore etus dusapi-dem

fugia ius es aut et dolore m

agsequi ipsanis estiae corro ditat vereperum

re volorum

volentotat quid mos et m

a non re veles ero verepelit, conseque verio. Ferferum

ad moles nonseque platur aut

endendant velecatur re num harum

estinve

Ignimagn atectorem vitatemped quisquoditis nes cusanto

tatatur, coriossit es sedit, sinum asperum quati blabore

molupta illamet landam erum solor restia n

dam rati cumetur modis dolectatatas nobitatem volut

alitium et laborro eum libusto eum nimi, offici

eic tem essi sandiat emporpo rectiusant, omnite dipsan-

dipsbitiandunt eium eossequi ut re que erspers pidersp elitae

res neste officil landis et repuda quo

blacestisit lit, quia sitatio.

itia quo volupta tenduci simus a di venimen imintium

quiati tem et utem is conseri berem samet eosam ad quas

et apiti dolupta cora

in rempos ut miliqua ssitae a ium dunt abo. Liqui om-

nimpor sunt odiorrunt expliqu istotatur sequi aperesti tem

renimol ecusciliqui blat.

Sed qui aute pra adignat.

Os destrumqui re, quamusti am alitium ne cullatint quun-

tium harum ipistrum quam voluptae sequia nonemperi

dolorum es dita sequos resecum qu

atur? Ed ut facesci

oluptae et ut prae ni dolorest hit voluptatur, viti nobitio.

Magnihi litatqu iatiis dollign imoditio dusa andaepudam

que ea vollenda do

lupta simodite por autempo reperero vel iunt.

Ut velitibus nulparchil is quis dolore molut et mincipsa

veOnsecus aut as vendae. Id ma vellabor moditam fu-

giatu sciumquas eatia ipsunt

aute rerionse dolupta consed quasi ut est alian

da alite voles quamus, cus ea sus nos volupta tusapien-

dae. Bor aut velis sus alitatemquae non consed endande

lecdendebis utem rem rero omnim volorem nusae sam

verum

reperovid que cus dipsapis et est proribus, ut rem sitat

quae landi omnimaio cum dentemque re pra voluptist ip-

sam autet explique ped ea et magnatu ribus, siti rerorum,

non conseque exeroreror maxime

t ad expernam id et quod et magnihi ctotatus sinusaesci

dolenimporae

eum volorent.

Lesti occabo. Ebisimperia ad mint velendimus modit,

sinciatur aut quas sit re, quatemqui volore etus dusapi-

dem fugia iu

s es aut et dolore mag

sequi ipsanis estiae corro ditat vereperum re volorum

volentotat quid mos et ma non re veles ero verepelit,

conseque verio. Ferferum ad moles nonseque platur aut

endendant velecatur re num harum estinve

Page 4: Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

4 of 12 Pathways Spring 2011

neck. My other warmth strategy included wrap-ping a finger woven wool sash around my waist to trap in heat and, when the cold really set in, putting on my capote (a hooded wool overcoat). While dressed in the style of a Frenchman, my Native friends exhibited the same type of clothing which, as much as anything, reflected the sharing that went on between these two cultures.

Settling into our overnight accommodations, the first order of business was to get a fire started. Besides the candle lanterns we’d brought, the fire would give us extra light once the sun, which was still setting early in the day, dropped below the ho-rizon. As our only external source of heat, it would also be needed for cooking purposes. Without it, any chance of spending an enjoyable night out would be greatly diminished. For that reason, Phil-lipe rummaged in his pack and brought out a fire kit. Two quick strikes of his fire steel against the sharp edged flint resulted in a red hot ember glow-ing to life on the char cloth. Long before matches came into being it was essential for people to carry these few tools in order to make fire. It’s the learn-ing of these skills that enables historically inspired living to come alive when on a trip.

With our fire steadily gaining strength, other tasks drew our attention. The water we’d brought to the site was stored in wool covered kidney shaped canteens. To keep it from freezing I dug down to the bare ground, where the temperatures are typically 10 to 15 degrees warmer than the air. By placing the containers there, and then loosely piling snow around them, our supply would remain

RA

mb

lin

gs

fr

om

re

dh

ill

by

Sn

ap

pe

rP

et

ta

Onontake: the Mohawk word for “on the hill;” and that’s exactly where we were headed. February had brought wonderful winter weather and we were on our way to experience it; 18th century style. While I’ve camped during the fourth sea-son for over forty years, I’d never done so in this manner; although some of my earliest winter trips weren’t far removed. For that reason I was eager to see how I’d fare with our trip back in time. The initial appeal of our destination was its proxim-ity to a town; Bainbridge, NY to be exact. While definitely in the hinterlands of the Susquehanna valley, we were less than a mile from two of my trip mate’s homes. If an emergency arose, help would be close at hand; a comforting thought on a cold winter’s evening.

As re-enactors a certain level of imagination goes into all trip planning. On this journey we’d decided to visit an abandoned Dutch trading post (aka: lean-to) to take shelter from the snowy woods. Snowshoeing in, we dragged our supplies and equipment in on traines; what we know of as a toboggan. Dressed in layers of wool, wearing win-ter moccasins made of moose hide and lined with wool nippes (foot coverings that take the place of socks), it was easy to understand why wearing lay-ers was as appropriate over two centuries ago as it is today. Each piece of clothing was chosen for a particular reason and constructed of a specific ma-terial. My inner layer, a sleeveless gilet (vest), took the place of a long underwear shirt. Layered over this was my wool chemise (shirt), its length fall-ing down to my knees, covering the gap between my brayet (breechclout) and mitasses (leggings). Completing my outfit I wore a red wool toque (cap) atop my head and a silk cravat (tie) around my

Page 5: Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

5 of 12Pathways Spring 2011

liquid due to the insulating properties of the snow; some-thing we greatly appreciated the next morning when it was time to make coffee. While I worked on preserving our water supply others went out to collect wood. A couple of sharp blows with my French axe and the fuel was prepared in appropriately sized stacks; smaller, thinner pieces for quick boiling and larger chunks of hardwood for long linger-ing coals. All in all, everyone’s efforts resulted in a properly prepared site less than 45 minutes after our arrival. Now it was time to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

And relax we did! The remainder of our adventure morphed into an exercise in living a life of leisure. Dinner was a traditional Iroquois corn soup. Chunks of chicken mingled amongst hominy, beans and squash; their flavors blending to perfection in broth. Complimenting the meal was a loaf of period correct bread which I’d baked, ac-companied by hard cheeses and summer sausage. The beverage of choice? Port wine, of course; warmed by the fireside to bring out the intricacies of its flavors. All of this was consumed around the comfort of the fire, surrounded in the warmth of friends until it was time for bed.

When the time came to retire we readied our gear on the floor of the shelter. Nestled under my wool blankets, body warmth quickly turned my environs into a cozy cocoon. In the few moments before falling asleep I thought about the day and the unique things I’d witnessed; the weird snow patterns sculpted around the perimeter of the fire pit by the warmth of the flames and the bubbling of water that ema-nated from below ground as heat drove deeply into the frost filled soil, thawing it back into its liquid state, creating minia-ture hot springs. My next recollection after that was of the sky blending from dawn into a sharp brightness, signaling the onset of morning. It was time to shake off my protective covering and face another day. A breakfast of steak and coffee, fortified with bourbon & cream, signaled the end of our short time together. Upon finishing our meal each of us packed our bedrolls, loaded the traines and strapped on snowshoes. The new day had brought with it a warming trend. As the temperatures rose heavy clumps of snow fell from the tree limbs, litter-ing the woods with slushy mounds where a light fluff had once covered the landscape. The hauling of gear, while snowshoeing on a surface that now had the consistency of mashed potatoes, wasn’t something we looked forward to but thankfully the trail out was short. In no time we were back to our vehicles and looking squarely at the 21st century. While not unexpected, it was still sad to see our journey come to its conclusion. This had been a wonderful opportunity to experience the winter woods while honing ancient skills. Coupled with the camaraderie of friends, our short overnight deposited numerous images in my memory bank; ones that will be withdrawn and revisited in the years to come.

Until next time, may all your rambles lead you to new and exciting places.

Subjects Matter

Topic: Literacy, Visualization for ComprehensionGoal: Introduce the skill of visualization as a comprehen-sion strategy.Objective: Students will construct mental as well as con-crete images of text.Materials: • The Vegetables Go To Bed by Christopher King • White board and markers • Paper and pencilsProcedure:Set-up: • Introduce the word visualize. What it is – making pictures in our head (use a tree as example). How we do it – use what we already know to help us. Are all of our pictures the same – no. • With eyes closed, students visualize the word flower. Two students draw their mental picture. Repeat with the word fish and the book title (The Vegetables Go To Bed).Outline: • Students listen to the rest of the story – making mental pictures instead of seeing actual pictures. • When story is complete each students is given a piece of paper and pencil to draw a scene they have visualized from the book. • Check for understanding while students are drawing.Review/Closure: • Students return to the group to share their visualiztions. • Are all the pictures the same – no, we see the story dif-ferently. • If time permits, reread story with pictures to show how Christopher King and Mary GrandPre visualized the story. If not, use as follow-up.

Follow-up: • Visualization and adjectives go hand in hand. Practice describing objects found outdoors to help students build their adjective library and create more detailed mental images.• Practice the visualizing technique on the playground. Go outside to the playground after recess and have students picture something that they did on the playground earlier in the day. Have them draw the event using the scenery on the empty playground to help them visualize. • Use the opportunity to talk more about the vegetables in the story and create an outdoor garden based on student’s drawings from the book.

CreatingMentalPicturesPreparedbyNicholeGatherer

Page 6: Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

6 of 12 Pathways Spring 2011

In early February, despite all the curve balls thrown by Mother Nature, NYSOEA held its annual Winter Weekend at the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge NY. The familiar and cozy atmosphere was a great place to honor a diverse and deserving array of awardees.

In total, five awards were awarded to seven deserving awardees. The Presidential Award was given to Betsy Ukeritis and Jessica Olenych, who chaired the 2010 NAAEE Conference in Buffalo-Niagara NY. The Outdoor Educator Award was presented to John Stowell, Program Coordinator, Taconic Outdoor Education Center. The Service Award was presented to Nathan “Nate” Garcia, Graphic Artist and Layout Coordinator of Pathways. The Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Mary Leou and Professor Beth Klein. The Art & Literary Award was presented to multiple Grammy® nominee musician Tom Chapin. Running a conference, particularly a national conference, requires considerable time and energy. For over three years, Betsy Ukeritis, Regional Environmental Education, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and Jessica Olenych, head of Common Ground Educational Consulting, along with NYSOEA President MaryLynne Malone, prepared for the 2010 NAAEE Conference in Buffalo-Niagara NY. From finding sponsorships to scheduling field trips, there was no shortage of work to be done, and the tri-chairs were efficient and effective in making sure things got done. The result was one of the most exciting and enjoyable NAAEE conferences in years, and they received the Presidential Award for outstanding achievements. The Outdoor Educator Award recognizes the outstanding classroom teacher, outdoor/environmental educator or interpreter in the Association who has used the outdoors to enrich curriculum and/or interpret the natural world in a way that has expanded the environmental appreciation

of children or adults. Nominated by MaryLynne Malone, John Stowell has exemplified outdoor education for over 20 years, delivering the message of the outdoors to anyone who would listen. As Program Coordinator or Taconic Outdoor Education Center John lends his experience and knowledge to his fledgling staff each year and then in turn share it with the hundreds of kids that participate in the programs there. In addition to the school programs Taconic hold Public Programs like the Winter Festival, Mountain Laurel Festival and the Maple Sugar Festival and if you attend you will surely not miss his jovial smile and his contagious laugh. John has conducted countless workshops for NYSOEA Conferences. He has served on conference committees and has served as Conference Co-Chair several times. See http://www.localputnam.com/winterfest-interview-with-john-stowell/ for more about this outstanding Outdoor Educator. The Service Award is presented for outstanding support of Association goals by contribution of personal time and energy. Recipient must be a member for three years. This year’s recipient, Nathan Garcia, has transformed the quarterly newsletter Pathways, transforming it into something more accessible and appealing in print and on the web, using his keen eye and skill in graphic design. Nominated by three members of the Communications Committee Nirmal Merchant, VP Communications, Frank Knight, Contributing Editor, and Nichole Gatherer, his vision, commitment, and leadership are evident to those he works with, and the impact of his work has a much broader reach.

In recent years, Environmental Literacy has become at the forefront of the NYSOEA mission. In fact, Environmental Literacy is the cornerstone of the 2011 Conference, “Partnering & Planning for an Environmentally Literate NY” October 20th-23rd 2011 at the Villa Roma Resort and Conference Center in Callicoon NY. The two Leadership Award recipients are the vanguard of this movement, having spent the past several years laying the groundwork and foundation for the NYS Environmental Literacy Plan and traveling throughout the state to promote the plan while spearheading efforts to secure funding and cultivate key partnerships, including with Audubon NY, Children in Nature NY, DEC, NYS Parks, STANYS, SUNY Cortland, NYU,

ByJessicaKratzNYSOEAHonorsSevenWhoFurtheredtheFieldatAnnualAwardsCeremony

Page 7: Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

7 of 12Pathways Spring 2010

TEEP, Scenic Hudson, The Fresh Air Fund, SUNY Fredonia and a growing list of organizations. The Leadership Award is presented to candidates who are responsible for the growth of professionals in the field, who created innovative programs, and/or provided the management support that expanded outdoor education at the local, state, or national level. Tim Stanley, VP Human Resources, nominated Dr. Mary Leou, Director, Wallerstein Collaborative for Urban Environmental Education and Beth Klein, Professor, SUNY Cortland, for the Leadership Award. While most award recipients give a short acceptance afterward, Art and Literary Award recipient Tom Chapin, in a NYSOEA first, gave an acceptance performance, a collaboration between himself and a pair of fellow Grammy nominated artists, Jay and Molly Unger. Tom Chapin graciously performed at the 2010 conference in Buffalo-Niagara NY. Parents Magazine says, “Nobody today is writing and performing better kids’ songs than Tom Chapin . . . the Pied Piper of children’s music.” Billboard magazine calls Chapin “the best family artist around.” Widely known for his family-friendly and planet-loving music, his varied career has also led him to narrate children’s books on audio tape and to star in theatrical productions off and on Broadway. Visit http://www.myspace.com/tomchapin#ixzz0rQbzvTYu to learn much more about this talented and accomplished musician.

On the radio, on signs around town and on bumper stickers the phrase, ‘Buy Local’ seems to be popping up. We hear advantages such as: local food tastes better, we are lend-ing support to local farmers, improving the local economy, preserving farmland and most of all minimizing greenhouse gas emissions created while transporting imported food.But is it really better to buy locally? What about the global economy? In their article, Desrochers and Shimizu look at the advantages of not buying locally. They have found that much of the produce we eat can be grown so efficiently due to the natural habitat in certain parts of the world that the greenhouse gas emissions caused from food transportation outweigh the emissions from producing that same prod-uct in a much less efficient environment. Due to discount chains such as Walmart we can often buy that produce at a lower cost. This puts more money in consumer pockets while helping farmers in developing countries to better their economic situations. So what is better? Should we continue to push buying local or take a closer look at the global advantages of imported food?To read the February 2010, Montreal Economic Institute’s Economic Note in full and give your opinion on the au-thor’s ideas which we may edit and print, please visit www.nysoea.org. Click on the http://www.iedm.org/uploaded/pdf/note0210_en.pdf link. We are trying to initiate reader dis-cussion on environmental issues so please also consider submitting debatable issues that you would enjoy seeing discussed.

Pierre Desrochers is an associate professor at the Depart-ment of Geography, University of Toronto Mississauga. Hiroko Shimizu is a private consultant.

byPierreDesrochersandHirokoShimizuLocalvs.ImportedFood:WillBuyingFoodLocallySaveThePlanet?

Page 8: Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

8 of 12 Pathways Spring 2011

Looking to have your students leap from the sidelines into citizen science? To spring forward from awareness to ac-tion? David Alexander’s fun and easy-to-follow curriculum guide Hop into Action [NSTA Press, 2010] is a fantastic way for educators, youth leaders, and naturalists to become informed and involved with frogs, salamanders, and other amphibians.

Alexander leaves virtually no stone [or log] unturned, approaching the subject from nearly all angles, and all disciplines. He provides information on the ethical, prac-tical, and logistical considerations for the field and the classroom, from handling techniques to finding or creating an appropriate amphibian habitat. There is an extensive re-source list of related age-appropriate books and materials, a thorough glossary and index which is immensely helpful for building science vocabulary, and an elaborate matrix correlating the 20 activities to the North American Associa-tion for Environmental Education [NAAEE] Guidelines for grades K-4. Alexander also offers ways to adapt the les-sons for our youngest naturalists.

Alexander’s 20 activities are clearly written, require few ad-ditional materials [which are readily available and inexpen-sive to obtain] and easy to follow. A friendly frog appears on the introductory page of each activity. This familiar char-acter instantly welcomes you to each lesson, dressed and posed to provide a quick and amusing introduction. From artist to businessman, from diner to singer, our multi-facet-ed guide is a welcoming host and reflects how enjoyable and interdisciplinary the guide is. The clear illustrations and

clever comparisons [i.e., comparing the size of a frog to a tennis ball] make both teacher and student more comfort-able with measurement and helps both ease into scientific procedures. Alexander also offer fresh approaches to familiar activities [i.e., “Lily Pad Venn Diagrams”] and fun, modern ways of expressing and exploring ideas, such as “Herp, Herp Hooray” [amphibian conservation plans] and “Frog Pond Lifeguard” [aquatic invertebrate survey and ecological health assessment.

With nearly 1/3 of amphibian species known to be threat-ened or extinct, and at least 42% of amphibian species declining in population for reasons such as habitat loss, climate change, and fungal disease, according to the 2008 Global Amphibian Assessment http://www.iucnredlist.org/initiatives/amphibians, it is important to guide children to understand and appreciate amphibians before it is too late. It also provides an opportunity for students to connect to a global extinction issue closer to home, using species they can observe nearby.

Hop into Action is a fantastic vehicle for getting elementary school teachers more comfortable with and involved in science. It is also a convenient reference and source of ac-tivities for camps, youth groups, nature centers, and other non-formal settings. Its lessons can be used individually, as a building block for a unit, or a foundation for a year-long investigation. Hop into Action also makes a fantastic gift for the educators in your life, and is truly a gift to amphibians everywhere.

HopIntoAction:TheCurriculumGuideforGradesK-4

Paperback:100pages

Publisher:NationalScienceTeachersAssociation-NSTAPress(Oct.2010)

Language:English

ISBN-10:1936137070ISBN-13:978-1936137077

$22.95atwww.amazon.comandwww.nsta.org/store

Book Review

Page 9: Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

9 of 12Pathways Spring 2011

NaturallyPoetic

I arrive late,after the clamorof a long freight traincarrying cargo.

I came for you.There’s no answer.Only the applauseof dry leaves.

Here is your kettle,your table of twigsset with its tin plate.Your drained cup.

I came to you.You don’t answer.In the distance,the drill of a woodpecker.

Beyond your vacant hut,I hear the laughterof spring meltover the celery swamp trail.

WRITTENBYASHUTCABIN, After Tu Fu

- by Jo Pitkin

Jo Pitkin earned an MFA from the Writers’ Work-shop at the University of Iowa. She is the author of The Measure (Finishing Line Press), and her poems have been published in Ironwood, Quarterly West, Nimrod, Stone Canoe, Little Star, and other journals and anthologies.

Page 10: Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

10 of 12 Pathways Spring 2011

The New York State Outdoor Education Association, along with its partners, have been very busy since our last update in promoting Environmental Literacy initiatives in New York State.

The Environmental Literacy committee met on January 12th, 2011. The meeting was originally planned to be held at Sharpe Reservation, but was held via phone conferencing, due to heavy snow. The meeting focused on the rough draft of an NYS Environmental Literacy plan. Committee members reviewed plans from other states and met in smaller groups to review and add content to the NYS plan.

The committee is now working to organize a second series

QuarterlyUpdatefromtheEnvironmentalLiteracyCommitteeByTimStanley,VPHumanResources

of roundtables across the state. These roundtables will be held, April through June of this year starting with the first roundtable to be held at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island on April 13th. Environmental literacy will be a component of this full-day summit that will focus on the State of EE on Long Island. Subsequent roundtables will be announced on the NYSOEA website. • Visit www.nysoea.org to download outreach material and to sign up to the ELP coalition. Also, visit NYSOEA and New York State Environmental Literacy Plan on Facebook. • 2011 NYSOEA conference, “Partnering and Planning for an Environmentally Literate NY” to be held at The Villa Roma Resort October 20th-23rd.

Page 11: Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

11 of 12Pathways Spring 2011

Rain Barrels are a fantastic means of capturing April show-ers and reusing the raindrops harvested to water May flow-ers, and to reduce the amount of polluted runoff entering our waterways. Schools in Western New York have the opportunity to show how creative and environmentally con-scious they are by competing in a rain barrel painting com-petition. This contest is part of the Buffalo-Niagara Earth Day Celebration and is run by Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, a local non-profit environmental organization with the mis-sion of protecting and restoring our beautiful waterways, in partnership with Tifft and Reinstein Woods Nature Pre-serves, NYSOEA affiliates.

Winning rain barrels were on display at last year’s NAAEE Conference at the Buffalo-Niagara Convention Center and two rain barrels from this year’s contest will be making the journey to the Annual NYSOEA conference in Callicoon, NY. The competition is a great way to provide multidisciplinary sustainability education experience to students in Western New York. For only $15, you can sponsor a school’s participation in the competition. This will cover the cost of paint, brushes, and related equipment.

RegionalSpotlight:WesternRegion:PainttheRainGreenContest

The finished rain barrels from Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper’s Paint the Rain Green Contest will be on display and prizes will be awarded on April 30th at the Buffalo Niagara Green Expo at the Walden Galleria.

If you wish to sponsor a school and help NYSOEA meet its Paint the Rain sponsorship goals, visit www.nysoea.org for dedicated giving instructions.

Page 12: Spring 2011 NYSOEA Pathways

12 of 12 Pathways Spring 2011

Non-ProfitU.S. Postage

P A I DCortland, NYPermit No. 14

New York State Outdoor Education Associationc/o Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure StudiesP.O. Box 2000SUNY CortlandCortland, New York 13045

NYSOEA is a professional organization that promotes interdisciplinary life-long learning in, for, and about the outdoors and seeks to inspire appreciation of the environment by all people.

Our Mission

PathwaysInthisSpring2011issue:•andmore....

Check out our NEW and IMPROVED website!

www.nysoea.org