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How Daily Farm Work and Outdoor Projects Make Learning in High School Better for Teens

Emily Kaplan

June 28, 2019 |

KQED |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Maine

After teachers noticed high school students were lacking interest and motivation, one rural Maine town decided to completely reimagine the curriculum for the first year of high school. The school developed a program, based around outdoor project-based learning and community-building exercises, that incorporated state academic standards. Standardized test scores are already improving.

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How one school is getting kids fired up about climate solutions

Zoe Sayler

June 20, 2019 |

Grist |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

At Lowell School in Washington D.C., lessons about climate change don't just appear in science class, but also in most humanities courses. Cognizant of the stress this places on young students, the school has worked with the nonprofit Climate Generation to ensure the curriculum is solutions-oriented.

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Forgotten Landscapes: Bringing Back the Rich Grasslands of the Southeast

Janet Marinelli

June 20, 2019 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Clarkesville, Tennessee

A little known fact about the southeastern United States is that it used to be home to millions of acres of prairies and grasslands, and it remains one of the most biodiverse places in America. The Southeastern Grasslands Initiative is taking on the responsibility of documenting little-known species to better preserve species and educate others about the region.

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Brooklyn Middle Schoolers Are Launching Homemade Boats to Test Their STEM Skills

Monica Humphries

June 18, 2019 |

NationSwell |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

A New York organization called Brooklyn Boatworks conducts an after school program for students across NYC to learn STEM skills through the construction of a boat. The teaching model is built to support students who do and do not excel within a traditional school setting, and they strive to create a safe space for students to make mistakes and build self-confidence and social skills. Students also learn tangible skills like tool safety, map reading, environmental education, and project management, and the program culminates with each student setting sail in their handmade boat at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

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The Zen Beekeeper Returning Hives to the Wild

Vittoria Traverso

June 12, 2019 |

Atlas Obscura |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

Apis Arborea, a bee rewilding organization, seeks to educate the public on how to sustainably and responsibly rehabilitate and save the world’s bee population. Headed by Michael Joshin Thiele, the organization is helping commercial and urban beekeepers do so in a way that mimics their natural habitats. Practices like keeping hives 20 feet above the ground, handling them without protective gear, and making sure they have space will help improve the bees’ lives.

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Plastic with a Purpose

Jill Harkins

June 03, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A new social enterprise called rePurpose asks consumers to estimate their plastic usage and pay to offset it. Then, the organization funds worker cooperatives in India that provide more stable employment and pay for workers in the recycling industry. Still in its early stages, rePurpose hopes to collaborate with businesses, schools, and individuals to offset their plastic usage.

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Message scent: Douglas fir beetles detoured from Ouray forest by pheromone packets

Erin McIntyre

May 27, 2019 |

The Colorado Sun |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Ouray, Colorado

By combining biomimicry with biodiversity, Colorado’s forests have kept damaging fir beetles at bay. The city of Ouray, Colorado, and the Colorado State Forest Service have been working with the help of volunteers to apply chemical pheromones to protect Douglas firs from the damaging beetles. The pheromones mimic a warning produced by the beetles, discouraging them from settling on the tree. The pheromones are applied by hand, requiring teams of trained volunteers.

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Sustainability Behind Bars: Washington Inmates Are Connecting with Nature

Jake Bullinger

May 22, 2019 |

Bitterroot |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Olympia, Washington

The Sustainability in Prisons Project has brought environmental lectures, work, and support to thousands of inmates since 2003. It offers a unique type of prison work - wildlife preservation, such as taking care of endangered butterflies. It has also started composting and educational programs, in addition to the therapeutic effects of greenery on prisoners and assistance in reentry.

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An urban ‘butterfly experience' in Sri Lanka

Dilrukshi Handunnetti

May 15, 2019 |

Mongabay |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Sri Lanka, Moratuwa, Colombo

What was once the garbage dump of a clothing company in Sri Lanka is now the site of an urban butterfly garden. Dilmah Conservation and naturalist Rajika Gamage created the open air garden in 2011 to conserve endangered butterflies without actually keeping any species in captivity. Over 90 native plants were planted, and the garden now receives visits from over 50 different butterfly species. The sanctuary also serves as an educational resource to help stress the importance of the diversity of these insects as an indicator of the health of the habitat.

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Native bees, please

Casey Smith

May 11, 2019 |

Berkeley Science Review |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Berkeley, California

The Urban Bee Lab at UC Berkeley has spent over a decade collecting data about native Californian bees who regularly interact with humans so that they can share their findings to help farmers improve production. The lab collects specimens to help researchers down the line; they observe bees in nature; and they actively work with local farmers to exchange useful information. Short-term, the collaborations help farmers improve yield and provide a welcoming space to bees; short-term, the data collected will help protect and conserve native bee populations.

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