Environmental Education at Kimball Union AcademyDr. Dean GoodwinDirector of Environmental EducationThe Environmental Education program has been an integral part of the academic curriculum at Kimball Union Academy since 1995, and provides students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required for them to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. The program helps students to identify and analyze both natural and human-induced environmental problems, and enables students to learn how to assess the risks associated with these problems evaluating alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. In the world today, and in looking toward a sustainable future, it is of the utmost importance to prepare our students to become the environmentally literate citizens of tomorrow. Environmental Education at Kimball Union Academy is more than just an alternative science course; it is seen as a basic discipline that is essential for everyone to understand in order to meet the challenges of the future successfully. The interdisciplinary opportunities that environmental courses provide are numerous. Seldom does a day go by without some interesting environmental topic being reported on in the media. This helps underscore to the students the importance of the environment as it applies to everyone's daily lives, no matter where you live on the earth. Global Citizens of TomorrowThe Environmental Education program is deeply rooted in the scientific analysis of the environment. A student's critical thinking, and problem-solving skills are sharpened as they unravel the complexities of the natural world. The students of today are the global citizens of tomorrow. The program helps to prepare them to face the challenges that lie ahead for each new generation. Increasing scientific and environmental literacy is the beginning steps that these students are taking. Probably at no other time in our history has it been of such importance to fully understand our relationship to the planet that is our home. It is imperative to increase everyone's understanding of how human activities are affecting and upsetting the balance of the natural systems that operate on the planet. Our future depends on ensuring that we maintain sustainable systems. Everyone needs to be aware of his or her own ecological footprint, and take steps to minimize it! InterconnectionThe overall theme of the program can be seen as balance versus imbalance: a balanced system is sustainable and survives; an imbalanced system will collapse. Balance is the key to understanding and preserving the complex systems and cycles that make up planet Earth. The various environmental crises which humans face are the result of ignoring and upsetting critical ecological balances. Likewise, the solutions lie in understanding and tailoring our endeavors in a way that will restore and sustain these balances. One underlying goal is to show how everything in nature is interconnected, and to provide the information in an accurate, unbiased and interesting way. The Environmental Education program at Kimball Union Academy goes a long way toward helping each student achieve the following goals and important teaching objectives: Promoting Active LearningEach environmental course details the environmental constraints which humankind confronts and describes the actions that may be taken in order to cope successfully with them. A deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, nature is developed through discussions regarding ecological principles, population, conservation, pollution, natural resources and other issues. The laboratory section of each course is geared toward every student developing problem-solving skills and working as part of a research team. Each course is complemented by local field trips and prepares students for college courses on a variety of environmental issues. There is also a strong emphasis on community projects involving local citizens. Important resources that are used to supplement each course, and are found close by in the community, include local farms, wilderness areas, an electricity generating power plant, a water treatment facility, and nearby Dartmouth College. Our Own BackyardThe interdisciplinary nature of the Environmental Education program draws on material form the areas of biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics, in addition to the opportunities to explore environmental history and literature, and the close links between the environment and society. Students are trained to enhance their capabilities to articulate their thoughts verbally and in writing, which are of prime importance in each class. The availability of computers in the environmental science classroom provides options for incorporating interactive laboratory simulations into the course, and Internet capability for research and other purposes. The state of the art environmental laboratory, classroom and greenhouse areas, together with our ideal location, offers interested students an excellent opportunity to study the subject in a challenging, rigorous, and meaningful way. Environmental Education at Kimball Union Academy begins in our own back yard and endeavors to instill a sense of place in each student as they develop a greater awareness of the natural world in which they live, and prepares them to promote sustainability going forward into the future. |
Apply now and receive "early admission discounts!" ALL EDUCATORS attending any E.E. Just Institute are eligible to receive graduate credit! KUA is a 2006 recipient for the National Association of Independent School's “Leading Edge Award” for Environmental Sustainability! Read more! Read today's top environmental stories! |
