WBFN EDUCATION PROGRAMS
2011 WBFN EDUCATION AWARDS
The Willow Beach Field Naturalists (WBFN) members have always been strong supporters of outdoor education, believing that children need to experience the wonders of nature in order to develop a lifelong appreciation. Each year, we offer education awards to Northumberland County schools for projects or programs related to nature.
Photo© Bruce Parker.
This year, the WBFN Executive Board is very pleased to support programs that reach out to a wide audience of students across Northumberland County, awarding $250 to the KPRDSB Laurie Lawson Outdoor Education Centre, and $250 to the Alderville Black Oak Savanna Education Program, open to all Northumberland County Elementary and Secondary Schools. We wish them much success and hope that our donation will help towards fostering a lifelong love of nature in students who attend the programs.
Photo© Bruce Parker.
Some changes are being made to our next Education Awards Program. WBFN is shifting the timing for applying for the awards from the spring of the school year to the fall. The change will take place this school year. Applications from Northumberland County schools will be open in the Fall of 2012.
Willow Beach Field Naturalists Scholarship Award 2011
Photo© Karen Drew.
WBFN Education Program Co-ordinator Karen Drew presents this year's $1000 WBFN Scholarship Award to East Northumberland Secondary School graduate Cory Wake.
Education News 2010
WBFN Annual Education Award Presentations 2010
WBFN has supported Port Hope and Cobourg area elementary and secondary schools for the last eight years with an education program that endeavors to foster the interest of young people in the natural world and enhance their knowledge of current environmental issues. We have been providing annual education awards of $250 to two schools from 2002 to 2007 and three schools from 2008 onwards. In 2008 the awards program also expanded to include all Northumberland County schools. This year's winning schools consisted of two previous award winners with one new one.
St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School Campbellford
Teacher Joshua Charpentier and the Green Team have been piloting the Scrap the Cap program at their school. Their goal is to "raise awareness of the concerns and hazards associated with non-reusable, plastic water containers." After determining that the school of 195 students was using 1,045 non-reusable liquid containers per month, the Green Team and Mr. Charpentier believed that a solution to this problem was to promote the purchase, sale and use of re-useable stainless steel water bottles in their school. The funds from the WBFN Education Award has helped to fund the purchase of the bottles for the school. The Green Team hopes to expand their program to other neighbouring schools.
St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School Green Team Members with Teacher Joshua Charpentier and WBFN Executive member Carole Payne. Photo © Bruce Parker
To read more about St. Mary's School program and WBFN's presentation at the school in local newspapers:
Click Here for the Brighton Independent Report.
Click Here for the Community Press Report.
Plainville Public School
This is the third year that Plainville Public School has won an award from WBFN. Their planned project for this year focused on naturalizing an area adjacent to the school with native perennials and tallgrass prairie plant species. Led by Parent Council Chair Rose Goodall, the students will have learning opportunities through hands-on experience and discussions with the Ganaraska Conservation Authority and the Northumberland Stewardship Council Staff in preparing and planting the area. In addition, advice from the staff at the Alderville Black Oak Savannah will be sought. The location of the school close to the Rice Lake area makes the project particularly significant for the students.
Plainville Public School Parent Council Chair Rose Goodall. WBFN Executive member Carole Payne and Plainville Public School Students Megan Booth, Mitchell Benson and Chelsea Tinney. Photo © Bruce Parker
Notre Dame Catholic Elementary School Cobourg
Also a repeat winner from previous years, Educational Assistant Anne Young has involved students this year with a study on animals and their relationship in our environment. Funds from the WBFN Award were used to purchase an incubator to hatch chicks in the school resource centre. While originally part of a curricular program for grade 3 it was determined that the whole school should have an opportunity to be involved. The incubator with the eggs was placed in the school resource centre so that all students could watch and monitor the hatching of the chicks. After the chicks were of a suitable size they were taken to the farm of a staff member. Some students had the opportunity to see them on the farm as well. The school hopes to continue the program next year.
WBFN Executive member Carole Payne, presents a cheque to Notre Dame Catholic Elementary staff member Anne Young. Photo © Bruce Parker
Willow Beach Field Naturalists Scholarship Winner 2010
Willow Beach Field Naturalists presented for the first time in 2010 a $1000 Education Scholarship to a graduating high school student moving on to post-secondary education.
Congratulations go to first time winner Megan Reid from Port Hope High School. Megan is an enthusiastic and active environmental leader in her school has participated in a number of environmental projects and programs during her high school years.