Orelove_JMESThesis1995.pdf

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Part of Adventure to Action: An Outdoor Environmental Education Program for Pre-Teens

extracted text: ADVENTURE TO ACTION

AN OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR PRE-TEENS

An Essay Submitted to

the Faculty of the Masters in Environmental Studies Program at

The Evergreen State College

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Masters in Environmental Studies

BY

JONATHON ORELOVE

OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON

JUNE 1995

This Essay for the Master of Environmental Studies Degree by

Jonathon Orelove

has been approved for

The Evergreen State College

by

ABSTRACT

A model is developed to teach 11-13 year olds watershed-based outdoor environmental
education for a three-day non-residential day camp. The model synthesizes a
challenge program, nature appreciation activities, and environmental problem solving
approaches to environmental education. An activity guide based on the model is
presented, including a daily schedule, activity descriptions, materials needed and
maximum and minimum group sizes. A method of evaluating the effectiveness of the
curriculum is also included.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

iv

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
City of Olympia Stream Team Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
History of Stream Team Day Camp Curricula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Camp Goals

1

1

2

3

CHAPTER 2. ADVENTURE TO ACTION MODEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5

Challenge Program
6

Nature Awareness Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9

Environmental Problem Solving
11

CHAPTER 3. SUMMARY OF THE ADVENTURE TO ACTION ACTIVITY

GUIDE
25

Adventure to Action Camp Overview
25

Challenge Program
26

Nature Awareness Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 27

27

Environmental Problem Solving
CHAPTER 4. EVALUATION OF THE ADVENTURE TO ACTION CAMP
CURRICULUM
Introduction
Bennett's Model
Conclusion
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

30

30

31 .

37

APPENDIX A. THE ADVENTURE TO ACTION CAMP CURRICULUM ..... 40

APPENDIX B. PRETEST, POST-TEST, AND TELEPHONE SURVEY

111

132

PREFACE

During the past three summers, the City of Olympia has offered environmental
education day camps for 8-11 year olds in Olympia's Priest Point Park. The camps
are administered by the City of Olympia Stream Team Program, a public involvement
and education program of the Water Resources Division. The camps have been very
popular, and have played a vital role in Stream Team's mission of involving citizens
in the protection and enhancement of water resources in Thurston County watersheds.
Over the past three years, many parents and children have expressed interest in
expanding the camps to include older children. With this in mind, I worked with the
Stream Team program to develop this curriculum, Adventure to Action, to be used at
day camps for children ages 11-13 beginning Summer 1995.
In Chapter 1, I address how the curriculum fits in with the overall goals of the
Stream Team program. A brief review of past Stream Team day camp curricula is
provided as well as goals for the pre-teen camp sessions.
In Chapter 2, I provide a theoretical framework for the camp curriculum. The
curriculum is based on a synthesis of three approaches to environmental education: a
challenge program, nature awareness activities, and environmental problem solving.
Each of these models will be discussed and I will argue why each one serves an
important role in addressing the camp goals.
Chapter 3 contains a brief summary of the curriculum.
Chapter 4 addresses evaluation. The importance of evaluation is addressed and
a strategy for evaluating this day camp program is proposed.

iv

Appendix A contains the Adventure to Action activity guide in its entirety.
This section includes a detailed description of the activities including learning
objectives, procedures and materials needed.
Appendix B contains the pre-test, post-test and telephone surveys designed to
measure the effectiveness of the curriculum.

A project of this nature would be impossible to undertake alone. Indeed, this
project would not have been possible without the generous help of many individuals.
I wish to give special thanks to my reader, Tom Rainey, who gave valuable
input at each stage of the project.
I also would like to thank Liz Hoenig, Cindy Sanford and Cedar Wells of the
City of Olympia Water Resources Program;' Margaret Tudor of Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife; Nikki McClure and Jana Dean, former Stream Team
Day Camp instructors, Virginia Reed of Marshall Middle School, and Nicole Ribreau
of the City of Olympia Public Involvement and Education Program who reviewed
draft versions of the curriculum.
Troy Colley, Ellen Winiarczyk, Russel Chamberlain, Connie Leiden, Mary Pat
Sullivan, and Janet Oliver shared their knowledge about challenge programs.
Norman Le and Lauren Petty of the Refugee and Immigrant Service Center
were instrumental in identifying ways to make the camps more accessible to diverse
populations.
I am indebted to Jim Frasier of the Washington Department of Fish and

v

Wildlife, and Andy Haub of the City of Olympia Water Resources Program for their
help in planning the salmon spawning habitat improvement project.
The students of Marshall Middle School in Jack Aldridge's class gave valuable
feedback during the early stages of planning.
Finally, the following environmental educators were kind enough to share their
valuable insights: Julia Berg, Mercer Slough Summer Day Camp; Lisa Brice Lewis,
Northwest Watershed Education Alliance; Doug Catey, Capitol High School; Woody
Franzen, Nisqually Reach Nature Center; Jenna Glock, Komachin Middle School;
Wilma Hackman, Wild Olympic Salmon; Rhonda Hunter, Washington Department of
Ecology; Jean MacGreggor, Washington Center for the Improvement of Undergraduate
Education; Chris Maun, Nisqually River Education Project; Lin Nelson" The Evergreen
State College; Kit Paulson, Thurston Conservation District; Alan Ramer, Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife; Rochelle Rothaus and David Schmidt, Project
GREEN; Alice Saliba, Stream Team Day Camps; Susan Wertz, North Thurston High
School; Jon Wilcox, Washington Forest Protection Association; and Debrah Wood,
Mill Pond Intermediate School.

VI

For Appendices to this work
please make a request to:
Archivist
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, Wa. 98505