KAEE’s 48th Annual Conference | Forging Paths for Environmental Education: Community, Conversations, and Creativity
Title Sponsor: Morehead State University | Drs. Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education
Land Acknowledgement Morehead State University and the surrounding area are located on the traditional lands of the Yuchee, Shawnee, and Eastern Band of Cherokee. Indigenous peoples have lived on the land we now call Kentucky for over 12,000 years. We want to acknowledge the deep history of this land and the people who still live here today. To learn more about this land and the land you call home, visit native-land.ca.
Johnson Elementary School's Eco Club, in collaboration with our school's administration, is excited to propose a session for the upcoming annual conference titled "Empowering Students to Lead Sustainable Practices." Our proposal aligns with the conference theme of Forging Paths for Environmental Education: Community, Connections, and Creativity and specifically addresses the strands of Education in Practice and Community Engagement.
At Johnson Elementary School, our Eco Club members have taken the lead in implementing various sustainability initiatives within our school and community. These initiatives include whole-school recycling, Terra cycling, composting, electrical energy conservation, water conservation efforts, and the development and maintenance of an outdoor classroom. Through these efforts, we have not only transformed our school into the first US Department of Education Green Ribbon School in Northern Kentucky but have also created a culture of environmental stewardship and synergy among our students and staff.
In our proposed session, we will share the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from our journey towards sustainability. We will discuss how student leadership has been instrumental in driving change within our school, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility among our students. Additionally, we will highlight our plans to grow food for our cafeteria and enhance our nature trail with native pollinator-friendly plant species.
Our session will provide practical insights and strategies for educators and environmental advocates looking to empower students to lead sustainable practices in their schools and communities. We believe that our experience at Johnson Elementary School serves as a valuable case study for promoting environmental education, equity, and inclusion, as well as fostering community engagement and capacity building.
We are excited about the opportunity to share our story and hopefully inspire others to act towards a more sustainable future within their own buildings. We look forward to contributing to the conference program and engaging with fellow educators and environmental advocates. Thank you for considering our proposal.
