The Our Place Program in Indiana: From the School to the Streets!

[Derek Reuter]

Many schools and classrooms throughout the state are participating in the Hoosier Environmental Council's "Our Place Program": A place-based education program that funds and empowers teachers and students to have a learning experience out in the field while benefiting the community though active participation in environmental stewardship.

The "Our Place" education project uses an innovative educational approach that combines environmental education with civic engagement for classes K-12. It brings teachers and resource people together to facilitate student-driven projects based on environmental issues within their own communities.

This program continues from year to year and involves over 40 teachers for various schools throughout the state. "Our Place" is possible because of the solid efforts produced by front line educators and pro-active students, along with the help provided by the open social AGreenerIndiana.com. It is a goal of the Environmental Resources to spread the word and help the community become aware of the quality work that is being produced by this program and how you can become involved!

For instance just this week many Our Place projects were completed and it would be a pleasure of mine to share the experience with you!

Monday was an exciting day for Meagan Hartleroad's AP Environmental Science Class from New Haven High School "Allen County."

Over 20 students hit the water in kayaks and canoes and traversed the 3-Rivers of Fort Wayne (St. Joe, St. Marys, and Maumee Rivers) after being informed on river safety, logistics, and water quality. Throughout their time on the water they were educated on the conditions of the waters and the causes that have impaired the waterways. The students participated in water monitoring, habitat assessment, and classroom studies that have empowered the students awareness, interest, and love for environmental stewardship!

Kimmy Maud and I, as coordinators of the event, tagged along with the students. We entered the St. Joe River at Johnny Appleseed park with their River Guide and fellow educator Matt Jones from the Allen County Partnership for Water Quality.

For lunch we stopped at Stevie's Island on the St. Joe and began conducting our habitat assessment of macro-invertebrates while continuing our water monitoring. After being caught up in the joy of a good swing, the Executive Director of the Little River Wetlands Project Betsy Yankowiak (Broccoli) joined us on the island for a comprehensive overview of the LRWP, their wetland preserve Eagle Marsh and the heritage and history of wetlands throughout the state and their purpose in a healthy watershed.

Although the students didn't want to leave the little known oasis of Stevie's Island, we flowed down river to the confluence of the three rivers then paddled up the St. Marys to the FW Outfitters & Bike Shop's access point who had graciously provided us with our water craft, paddles, and life jackets. THANK YOU FW OUTFITTERS!!!

We wrapped up our water monitoring, closed with a few main points and some Q&A and then the students were off just in time to arrive for New Haven High School's closing bell (a perfect end for any student who has spent all day on the water).

The benefits of the information that was provided by Education Resources touched on issues of water quality, BMP's, solutions to pollution, programming, current activities, history, and heritage from spanning from the local to the broadside of the worldwide green paradigm and how we all play an equal part in stewardship of the earth and its elements.

Of all the pleasures experienced on that day, nothing compares to the joy and smile you see upon the students' face after they have found purpose and taken part in forwarding their passions!

“Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.” ~ Yeats

Derek Reuter
Executive Director of A Greener Indiana
&
Education Resource for the Our Place Program!


SPECIAL THANKS TO THE:
Thanks to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and several private donors for funding the Our Place Program
FW Outfitters and Bike Shop
Allen County Partnership for Water Quality
Little River Wetlands Project
Fort Wayne Water Resources
DNR of Indiana
and volunteers Kim Maud & Matt Ragratz
Together we were able to make it happen!