Endangered Species

Submitted by dsradford on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 12:29

the problem:

"It's a problem because kids who don't get nature-time seem more prone to anxiety, depression and attention-deficit problems." -Richard Louv, "Last Child in the Woods," 2005.

It is both apparent and well documented that children today are raised in an increasingly indoor and electronic world. But the limited outcomes of electronic games and the sit-and-stare pattern of indoor play are not meeting children's biological needs for excercise, creative problem solving, imagination, and exploration.

That's why we need to foster a return to outdoor play. Many children in this day do not have access to natural areas, especially safe natural areas suitable for free play and adventures. Even when nature areas are avialable, such as in our rural community of east central Illinois, children who have been raised indoors sometimes need help initiating creative exploration. They have not had a chance to encounter it before.

vital stats:

people impacted:

262

people involved:

why it's important:

The Douglas-Hart Nature Center lives by the motto: "experience, understand, appreciate," because we beleive that experiencing the wonders and mysteries of the natural world is the best way for children to form an understanding and subsequent appreciation for what our Earth provides. By giving the children of our community the opporutnity to explore nature and form personal connections with the natural world, we are strengthening not only the character and health of the child, but also of the community and planet as a whole.

Douglas-Hart Nature Center offered 30 youth summer day camps in the summer of 2011, and will offer 30 in the summer of 2012. Day camps are designed for all age ranges, and feature a variety of themes. Camps vary from 2-6 or more hours a day, depending on the theme and age of the campers. Some camps include lunch at the campfire. All camps include games, crafts, exploration, inquiry, free play, and environmental education - made fun! Camps are 3-5 days over a week, and camps are offered from June-August.

the plan of action:

High-school age students, 13 years or older, are invited to join our Junior Counselor Internship program and become volunteer co-leaders of our many summer day camps for youth.

Participants recieve on-site training, as well as prizes and a completion certificate and letter of reccommendation at the end of the summer.

Junior Counselor Interns (JCI's) are requested to volunteer for a minimum of one camp week, but are encouraged to return for several experiences over the summer. Sign up for camps with the themes, age groups, and time frames that interest you.

This is a amazing way to use your summer helping local children learn to enjoy and appreciate the outdoor world. Did we mention how much FUN it is, too? At the end of the summer, you will be able to add an impressive experience to your resume, one that includes aspects of leadership, teaching, organizing, working with kids, working with the environment, and that demonstrates basic work skills and ethics.

The summer camps and other programs that Douglas-Hart is able to provide are only possible because of the volunteer and donor support we recieve from our community. Thank you for helping!

how you can get involved:

Non- high-school-aged volunteers are also needed to assist with our summer camp operations. If you are intersted in the environment, in fitness, in teaching, or in special education, this would be a great opportunity for you to get involved for a good cause!

project updates:

Submitted by krazykathy on Mon, 01/30/2012 - 17:15

the problem:

I am trying to stop any animal cruelty, help animal get out the shelter alive and more.

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people involved:

why it's important:

I hate seeing animal commercials and crying after each one and just sitting there watching it. I want to make a change.

the plan of action:

To call animal shelter and ask to use there animals for an animal-a-thon.

how you can get involved:

Contact me at katherinebaby21@aol.com and leave your information such as your Phone number and name.

project updates:

Submitted by One More Generation on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 20:58

the problem:

Plastic Pollution is a problem that is so severe and out of control that we can no longer "recycle" our way out of it. Each year an estimated 1-million sea birds and over 100,000 marine mammals die from ingesting plastic.

Plastic pollution effects every single human on the planet and we are the only ones who can turn the situation around

vital stats:

people impacted:

4,000

people involved:

why it's important:

We have seen first hand the harm plastic pollution is doing to animals and to our environment. Now that we have learned what is causing the problem, it is impossible for us to ignore the issue. It is our responsibility to educate others and to help them find a solution before it is too late.

the plan of action:

Our two young founders have helped to create a comprehensive educational program geared at education students and adults about the issue of Plastic Pollution and provide them with simple ways each one of us can immediately make a difference. We offer the Plastic Awareness Week program to schools nationwide and actually travel across the country raising awareness to the issue. We have also assembled a Plastic Awareness Coalition which now boasts over 50 organizations of like minded individuals all trying to make a difference. We have spent over 5-months educating ourselves about the issue of Plastic Pollution and another 8-months collaborating with educators in order to finalize our Plastic Awareness Week Program. We have traveled the country speaking to thousands for students and adults about the issue and we have also successfully conducted our educational program to numerous schools and other organizations.

how you can get involved:

If your interested in having our program featured at a school near you, simply contact us and we will gladly work with school officials on all the details. We desperately need volunteers reaching out to schools and churches nationwide about the program and as schools sign-up for the program, we need folks to help teach the program.

project updates:

1 comment

Submitted by 92Warrior on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 13:30

the problem:

I am trying to convince others to help protect and save endangered speciecies. I give presentations to various groups and organizations, even schools, to help spread a message on how important it is protect wildlife and their habitats.

vital stats:

people impacted:

300

people involved:

why it's important:

They way we treat our natural world is important to our future. If we dont' act now, we could eventually cause many more species to become extinct which has an affect on the life cycles in an ecosystem. If a species dissapears, the balance of nature will be disrupted. If we carelessly destroy the habitats, we could eventually put ourselves in harms way.

the plan of action:

I plan to give presentations to various groups and organizations to help spread the word about protecting the natural world. I would like to collect donations to send to various organizations such as World Wildlife Fund and the Defenders of Wildlife. I would also love to convince others to do the same. I hope to create an awareness of the natural world to the public. Currently my actions or locally but I hope that some day I will be able to make a difference and spread the message about conservation throughout the world.

how you can get involved:

Others can help by going green. They can donate to organizations designated to presearving habitats and their wildlife. They can also help protect wildlife on their land, volunteer in various groups to help preserve habitats, and do research to get a better understanding about the wildlife so that they can distinquish facts from fiction.

project updates:

90 Reasons to Love Betty White

Submitted by Teresa.Roca on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 15:19

Betty White celebrated her 90th birthday yesterday surrounded by friends and good memories as NBC threw the Hot in Cleveland star an unforgettable birthday bash. In celebration of her birthday, here are 90 reasons why we love Betty White!

Submitted by josh_sg1 on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 14:36

the problem:

I would like to make a universal paradise for everyone on the Planet through Investing and Inventing Technology and Extreme Science Advancements in Nano Technology that can do anything you can imagine, solve all your problems in any, create practically invincible anything, etc...

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

I want to do it as I want to do something, anything to get the technology I want.

the plan of action:

I would like to create some inventions I design. I would like to do college, I want to be there to know graphic design and make money to invest with. There are small projects I can do with small amounts of money and there are large projects with a lot of money. Example: A Nano Technologically advanced Volumetric Molecular Scanner that can scan something and make a digitally programmed 3d working copy of it can work with a nano machine with a compupter where you can do anything you want to it instantly. That includes people, objects, items, anything you can think of, completely stop the need for farms and animals farming as all the acids and minerals can be practically instantly printed off a computer with this. I like to think it would cost around $990 Billion USD to design the Scanner. With the Scanner, it can be designed quickly and distributed everywhere. I am the only person in the universe that I know of actually doing something about it.

What I would like to do to make the money is make a Electric Generator that creates its own electricity to power things like helicopters and jets. I already design it and I can talk to engineers that can make it although it would be a hard concept as anyone I explain it to that thinks they know how to do it greater would just do it themselves, take small amounts of investment and the money that would be needed for the scanner would be distributed to lots of people at large companies an they wouldn't do anything to design the scanner. I would like to think that I would need more power from the electric generator as a idea to make people want to buy it. I design a lot of inventions and I can make designs and everything I would need to show engineers how to design them. The electric generator I design is about less than $100.00 in resources, and is less than a few LB's. It is in the shape of a acorn. I call it the Acorn. It is not all about the generator's. I design a lot of inventions and a lot of ideas, companies, etc... that are all amaing and I would like to think that people are interested in what I am interested in though I would like to be around people like that in college environment's.

how you can get involved:

People can work with me on project's and make money. People can invest with the company too.

project updates:

Submitted by Giants2012 on Wed, 01/11/2012 - 18:59

the problem:

I want to make an organization that helps educate and actually clean up the environment

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

I want to see the earth as a beautiful place, not in a situation with animals going extinct left and right.

the plan of action:

first to get my idea out there, then start off small with friends and school clubs and volunteer to clean up trash and speak at schools, and eventually start a big organization

how you can get involved:

n/a

project updates:

Submitted by jackief03 on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 08:37

the problem:

We are doing our best to keep the meadows at UC Santa Cruz clean and we try to inform the students about protecting the animals, such as the banana slugs from becoming extinct. It is important to keep the animals safe not only for the world, but for future students who come to our campus to see these animals, which are a big part of our college.

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why it's important:

It is important that we acknowledge these animals as part of our being here in the world. They not only bring peace but they are a big part of this planet and without them there would be no pride at UC Santa Cruz because the banana slugs are our mascot.

the plan of action:

I plan to get more students involved because this is a great project that can bring more awareness to others who are not informed about animal extinction and the importance about keeping these animals alive.

how you can get involved:

Others can help by volunteering to keep banana slugs alive around the world and by promoting awareness about this issue.

project updates:

2 comments

Submitted by PortugalT1 on Fri, 12/30/2011 - 07:15

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Submitted by PortugalT1 on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 13:10

the problem:

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