The Oshkosh West Index - Summer 'edventures' enlighten students about 'going green'

Summer 'edventures' enlighten students about 'going green'

By Leah Dittberner
posted November 19, 2008

Recently, the "green" movement has become something of a fashion statement among teens. Canvas bags or tees with slogans like "Live Life Green" and "Save the Planet" are common sights in the hallways, but the question arises as to how dedicated these people are to the cause they advertise. This summer, a group of students will go beyond the fashion trend, and by travelling over 2,500 miles to Seward, Alaska, they will get the ultimate opportunity to really make a difference in the environment.

Seward is a coastal town located on the Kenai Peninsula, an area in south-central Alaska that is rich with diverse natural landscapes, leading to the nickname "Alaska's Playground." From June 25-July 1, a group of science students accompanied by science teachers Kimberly Hoyle and Holly Pershing will get the chance to encounter the Alaskan wilderness at its greatest, and learn countless valuable lessons along the way. This trip, open to all students and their parents, is a replacement for the discontinued Bahamas trip.

"The environmental educator who used to run the Bahamas program is no longer with that company and has opened her own company, Green Edventures, which is doing this trip to Alaska," said Biology II teacher Sara Dobish, previous advisor of the Bahamas trip.

The trip, known as "Kenai Discovery," is coordinated by the Green Edventures Company, an organization that hopes to provide students with an eco-friendly travel experience full of hands on learning opportunities.

"Because of the exceptional trip organized the other years we went to the Bahamas, I know that this Alaska trip will be an exciting, educational trip," said Dobish.

This excursion is different from any other school sanctioned trip because students will be exposed to activities that provide opportunities ranging from helping researchers to assisting scientists in conducting studies.

"This is an opportunity to give back to the environment," said Hoyle. "Students will help researchers pick up trash and catalogue it in order to learn the effects debris has on wildlife."

The Alaskan coastline is an important part of the ecosystem for many species of birds, seals, and other wildlife, and the debris that pollutes the shoreline is harmful, if not deadly, to all species. By helping clean up this important region, the students will experience what it is like to contribute to the "green" movement. Along with these commendable contributions to the betterment of the planet, the students will sightsee in the pristine wilderness of Alaska, with virtually no harm done to the environment.

"The students will participate in many environmentally conscious activities, and travel to different sites will be done by bio-diesel shuttle vans," said Hoyle.

The trip will also give students the opportunity to experience activities like sea kayaking and hiking through ice fields and forests which, according to Hoyle, will allow them to experience nature firsthand without disturbing it.

"I think everyone is really looking forward to experiencing the amazing scenery of Alaska, doing their part to help the environment, and learning more about the wildlife, and hopefully seeing it up close," she said. "This is the ultimate opportunity for students to erase their carbon footprint."

The focus on giving back to the environment is one that remains prominent throughout all aspects of this carbon-neutral trip. Students who are passionate about learning, interested in environmental education, or seek a rewarding, life-changing experience are encouraged to grasp this outstanding chance to see the natural world at its greatest, and do their part in improving the place they call home.

"Spots on the trip are still available, and anyone interested should contact Mrs. Pershing or myself," said Hoyle.

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photo courtesy of travellingboard.net

This summer’s trip to Alaska, which replaces the usual excursion to the Bahamas, will highlight many endangered sights like the Hubbard Glacier, above.

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