As If The Earth Matters, Recommitting to Environmental Education

Whether you are a veteran of environmental education or new to taking students outdoors, this book will help you organize positive experiences in Nature for your students, friends, children and colleagues. In these pages you will find ideas designed to arouse your passion for learning and ignite a flame of excitement.


By using the activities described here, and adapting them to suit your needs and your local environment, you will discover Nature’s intricate beauty and subtle mysteries that usually go unnoticed. You will also gain valuable insight into the limitations of classroom instruction and come to realize that a complete and whole education includes getting outside and experiencing the natural world first hand


As If the Earth Matters is a beautiful collection. From role-plays and kinesthetic activities to art, music, and listening adventures, each is described completely enough to be repeated. The authors have authentic, international experience with children (giving) a world-class flavor to the book. Teachers who are designing curricula will love the book. But it will be even more valuable for those planning spring or summer outdoor education experiences, where it is an essential!


National Science Teachers Association

NSTA Recommends!

by Juliana Texley

NSTA Web Field Editor


The book is incredible - a must for every environmental educator. Nice Job, lot’s of great activities, nice diversity, good outlines and concepts. … I went through it carefully and particularly like the attention to concepts.


Lawrence A. Wilson, PhD

Ecologist

Fernbank Science Center Atlanta, Georgia USA


Authors:

Thom Henley has been teaching outdoor environmental education most of his adult life. He is well known for launching the largest conservation campaign in Canadian history, the 14-year effort to save the southern third of the Queen Charlotte Archipelago from clear cut logging. Today, the line on the map that he drew in 1974 is the exact boundary of the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. The National Geographic Society recently declared Gwaii Haanas the best national park in North America.


Kenny is a naturalist, adventurer, speaker, author and Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician. For the past 17 years he has worked as a both a classroom science teacher and Naturalist in the United States, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. He’s ridden a bamboo bicycle across South East Asia to raise awareness for sustainability in the region as part of the GREEN Riders Southeast Asia Team and his Rockin’ 4 the Environment Festival has raised over US$20,000 for conservation and environmental education in Malaysia since 2007. As a result of his work and dedication to the environment, education and conservation he has been awarded Volunteer of the Year by both the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream and the Malaysian Nature Society. Kenny currently leads environmental education and service learning adventure trips with In Touch With Nature Education to inspire students and teachers to make a deep connection with Nature and take action for conservation!


Keywords: Environmental, Children, Learning, Adventure, Activities, Education, Outdoors, Sustainable, Ecosystems