The Junior Naturalist Program
Promoting
Environmental Stewardship
while
Empowering Students
Presented by:
Cara Rieckenberg, Environmental Education Coordinator, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools
What are the goals of the
Junior Naturalist program?
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To provide environmental
stewardship opportunities for
students
To expose students to more
environmental education
experiences
To promote environmental
stewardship through
leadership and service
opportunities
To empower students
To have fun
How are the goals of the
Junior Naturalist program met?
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Monthly meetings
Service learning/stewardship projects
Environmental education activities
Modeling/teaching opportunities in
classrooms and all-school meetings
Outreach to other schools/organizations
Why is a Junior Naturalist
program important?
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“It’s important that children know they don’t
have to wait until they are adults to make a
difference in the environment. The behaviors
and attitudes that children develop continue into
adulthood.” ~ Robert Wilke, Ph.D. University of
WI – Stevens Point
Contact with nature has a positive effect in
reducing the impact of attention deficit disorder
in children (Taylor, Kuo, & Sullivan, 2001)
Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE
Why is a Junior Naturalist
program important?
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Enhances:
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Awareness – developing an awareness and sensitivity
to the environment
Knowledge – acquiring a basic understanding of the
environment and its problems
Attitudes – acquiring a set of values and feelings of
concern for the environment and motivation for
participating in improving and protecting it
Skills – acquiring skills for identifying and solving
environmental problems
Participation – encouraging active involvement in
resolving and preventing environmental problems
Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE
Why is a Junior Naturalist
program important?
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WA middle school students participating in
EE programs consistently outperformed
peers not involved in EE programs on the
state assessment test (Bartosh, Tudor &
Ferguson, 2005)
MN elementary students in integrated EE
programs scored significantly higher on
MCAs in reading (Workman, 2005)
Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE
Why is a Junior Naturalist
program important?
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Hawaiian elementary students in an issue
investigation EE program scored higher on a
critical thinking test than peers (Cheak,
Hungerford, & Volk, 2002)
Outdoor adventure programs tend to show
positive impact on self-esteem (American
Institute for Research, 2005; Cross, 2002)
Little Falls students (MN) in the environmentbased program comprised just 28% of reported
discipline problems but represented 46% of the
student body (Lieberman & Hoody, 2002).
Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE
Why is a Junior Naturalist
program important?
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Natural interest in the environment
Increased motivation and effort when
students are involved in real-life issues
with real-world connections/application
Offers opportunities to see connections –
among subject areas and between school
and ‘real life’
Multiple senses are engaged
Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE
Why is a Junior Naturalist
program important?
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Ties into effective educational practices:
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Inquiry-based projects
Service learning/real-world problem solving/ issue
investigation/projects
Student-centered learning
Hands-on learning
Integrated approaches
Involvement of community partners
Tangible/concrete projects or products
Julie Ernst, PhD, University of MN-Duluth, Research Supporting School-Based EE
How does a Junior Naturalist
program get started?
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A champion is needed…who will lead?
Share proposal with administration
Share proposal with staff
Generate interest with students
Obtain commitment from
students, teachers, and
parents
Who is the
Junior Naturalist Advisor?
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Teacher
Parent
Community member
Most important
characteristic is that this
person has a
commitment to
empowering students
through environmental
stewardship
What are the responsibilities of the
Junior Naturalist Advisor?
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Attend beginning of year meeting with EE Coordinator, Naturalist and
other district Junior Naturalist Advisors
Organize Junior Naturalist program at site
Organize and provide information to classroom teachers on what the
Junior Naturalist program is and how to choose Junior Naturalists as
class representatives
Schedule a minimum of 10 meetings with Junior Naturalists throughout
the school year
Schedule introduction meeting by the second week of October
Provide communication to Junior Naturalist families with dates for all
meetings and what the Junior Naturalist program is
Organize meetings by following provided format and in such a way that
Junior Naturalists do an activity or service learning project at each
meeting
What are the responsibilities of the
Junior Naturalist Advisor?
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Monitor Junior Naturalist progress on activity check list
Monitor need for Junior Naturalists to assist with recycling, food waste or
litter monitoring and teaching
Provide leadership through the Junior Naturalists for work on the
Naturalist Bulletin Board and Touch Table
Provide all-school announcements before scheduled Junior Naturalist
meetings as reminders
Assist at all-school meetings and Earth Day with providing leadership
opportunities for Junior Naturalists
Ensure that all Junior Naturalists are following Junior Naturalist criteria:
Schedule final meeting before the last week of May
Create award for recognition at end of school year
Attend end of year reflection meeting with EE Coordinator, Naturalist and
other district Junior Naturalist advisors
What are the responsibilities of
other adults?
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Teachers
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Parents
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Flexibility
Support
Some knowledge
Transportation
Support
Volunteer
Administration
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Support
Who can be a Junior Naturalist?
Anyone!!!
What are the roles and
responsibilities of
a Junior Naturalist?
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Be a positive role model
Communicate information by teaching or reporting to own
classroom and buddy classroom
Monitor and collect recycling
Monitor food waste program
Design and create bulletin board or display case
Clean, fill, monitor bird feeders
Clean, monitor wood duck and bluebird houses
Take daily readings at GLOBE weather station; report data
Attend all scheduled meetings
Assist with easy maintenance of outdoor learning areas
Be trained and train others on all EE related equipment
What are some
Junior Naturalist activities?
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Planting trees and/or flowers on school grounds
Maintaining outdoor learning areas (weeding, watering, cleaning out,
etc…)
Create bulletin board displays with themes (recycling, snow, animal
habitat, etc…)
Learn EE related games and teach to other classrooms
Install, monitor, fill and clean bird feeders
Build, install, monitor and clean bluebird and woodduck houses
Storm water labeling
Work with EE related professionals assisting with community projects
Create and distribute pamphlets to neighbors about OLC
Organize all-school clean up
Monitor recycling and food waste
Study local animals/plants and provide awareness to school community
with mini-lessons, displays or photo murals
Create podcasts and videos for school