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Rangers of the Earth_tm

4th and 5th graders

one full day outdoors in the fall; another in the winter; year-long program

Helps learners understand some basic ecological processes, enjoy experiencing the natural world, and examine how their lives impact on the earth's systems

following the travels of a water 'speck' at the Rangers Training Camp

Rangers of the Earth begins in the classroom or meeting place when a box arrives and presents the students with a riddle. Soon the youngsters spend a day outdoors learning how materials cycle and getting in touch with the natural world. Back at their meeting place (or classroom) they work on some individual and group tasks to further their understandings, experiences, and individual lifestyle choices. Later they come back to the training camp to find the answer to another riddle and go home to apply their new understandings. Group tasks focus on taking home the ecological concepts introduced at the Rangers Training Camp and individual tasks include keeping new less-wasteful habits and exploring and experiencing local natural areas. The year culminates in a group project that grows out of the year's learning and experiences. This program could become the backbone of the year's studies. Rangers of the Earth was designed by The Institute for Earth Education.

There are five Phases to this program. It takes an entire school year and requires dedication to follow through with students. But we believe this is a very powerful program that can really make a difference. We are proud to have been a major pilot site. The book describing the program was just published in October 2005. It's available from The Institute for Earth Education (email: iee1@aol.com). There is already much interest in this program from around the world!

on patrol

enjoying some good smells

This is the ninth year we have an after-school group at Martin Luther King, Jr. School in Wyandanch. In past years we've had classes from Norwood Ave School in Northport, a group of home-schooled youngsters through LIGHT, Oldfield Middle School in Greenlawn, Holy Family School in Hicksville, Huntington Intermediate & Southdown Intermediate Schools in Huntington, and Atkinson School in Freeport. We've also had some trainees from Huntington that met at Manor Farm.

on patrol
adding discoveries to the Patrol Map

writing a patrol report

Munch Line Monitors
filling a "munch tray"

Connection Inspection
a snake and plant exchange some air 'specks'

'Magic Spots' during the 2nd trip to the Rangers Training Camp

Time Capsules
Finding a Time Capsule

Looking in the Time Capsule

In the spring of 2010, the trainees decided to try to get people in their community to use less plastic bags. They gave presentations to all the 3rd and 4th grade classes in their school and sent all the kids home with reusable bags to use instead.

Speaking to a 3rd grade class

Passing out reusable bags

Participants will be invited to our Earth Explorers in the summer and Earth Exploring Adventures during the school year.

If you have a group that would like to participate in this program, please let us know right away. We'll have a lot to go over with you.

You can e-mail us at info@starflowerexperiences.org.

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