The Environmental Leadership Program is an interdisciplinary community-based learning program at the University of Oregon that matches student teams with non-profit organizations, government agencies and businesses to address community-defined environmental issues. With the overarching objective of developing reciprocal and mutually-beneficial partnerships between students and community organizations.
Manuela facilitating the lesson on anatomy of birds. Photo by Lesley Valadez
The 2024 Aves Compartidas Team works closely with our community to empower, educate, and connect elementary age children to the local and distant ecologies of the Willamette and Laja river ecosystems. As a team, our goal is to get our students excited about nature. The project aims to help them foster a curiosity about nature and to discover a sense of belonging in their environments. Our purpose incorporates the intentions of our partner organization, Mount Pisgah Arboretum,
“Our mission is to engage people with nature through interactive learning and stewardship.”
Aves team during our last field trip with our two mentors. Photo by Sarah Spoden.
I was part of the third grade team and some of my responsibilities were:
Adapted a curriculum for third graders and implemented Spanish into all of the lessons.
Led 5 in-class lessons for third graders at Camino del Río.
Led 3 field trips in Mount Pisgah Arboretum.
Support my third grade teammates as a facilitator, time keeper and note taker during their lessons.