Who says learning only happens indoors? Beaverton students recently took the classroom outside\u2013and left a positive, lasting impression on their local ecosystem.<\/p>\n
About 100 eighth-graders from Beaverton Health and Science School went to the Willow Creek Greenway to learn about Oregon\u2019s native species and plant trees along the creek bank. They got their hands dirty getting first-hand experience on how to help their community reach long-term environmental goals. The students successfully planted some 400 willow, red twig dogwood, Douglas-fir, and Pacific ninebark trees\u2013which will clean surrounding air and provide wildlife habitats for generations to come.<\/p>\n
This special tree planting Portland-area field trip was part of Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District<\/a>\u2019s outreach service program that educates students at their local parks.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a simple truth: Environmental education is important<\/strong>. Today\u2019s children are tomorrow\u2019s leaders. They need to know how to take care of our natural resources to ensure the well being of future generations. But with today\u2019s abundance of high-tech distractions, kids often turn to the TV when they could be getting in touch with nature. Getting connected with technology can disconnect us from the natural environment. Consider these troubling facts:<\/p>\n To cultivate healthy and responsible youth, we need to promote environmental stewardship. More than one in six Americans<\/a> spend their daily life in K-12 schools, where environmental curriculum is rarely incorporated in lesson plans. That\u2019s unfortunate, since studies show that environmental education improves children\u2019s lives<\/a> by:<\/p>\n If young people don\u2019t spend time outside gaining a basic understanding of the environment, how can we expect them to take on the daunting environmental challenges on the horizon?<\/p>\n With service-learning programs, students can incorporate lessons about the environment into their everyday life. After removing litter from Willow Creek, we\u2019re betting these Beaverton students are thinking twice about where they leave their trash. They might not pursue a career in the outdoors, like say, becoming certified arborists, but at least they\u2019ll be in the right mindset to care for our planet.<\/p>\n Only an educated public can ensure a healthy environment. Every industry can benefit from environmental education, from teachers training tomorrow\u2019s leaders, to scientists developing clean energy technologies, to health professionals advocating for pollution controls, to business managers understanding the impacts of their investments. Environmental education isn\u2019t just good for the planet; it\u2019s good for humankind. As your Portland and Beaverton tree service company<\/a>, we\u2019re thrilled to see opportunities for area youth to experience and care for the environment.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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Heightening children\u2019s imagination and enthusiasm for academics.<\/li>\n