environmental accountability – targeting teens and young adults star recycling and sustainability...
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
STAR Recycling and Sustainability SummitOctober 4, 2011
• What do we know about teen and young adult behavior?– It’s in the brain
• Develop back to front– More passionate– Prone to risk-taking– Tough to control impulses– Reasoning not developed
until around age 25
– Great website!• http://teenbrain.drugfree.org/science/index.html ,
click on the video
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• Why teens?– Untapped audience– Enthusiastic– Relevant– School credit/
requirements– Strengthen “green teams”– Increase participation in
school recycling programs– IMPORTANT
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• Development of IrvingYES– Funding– School support– Lectures/activities– Results– Future
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• Development of IrvingYES– Funding
• Grants– State funding to the COGs
– IrvingYES received $70,121– EPA Educational
• Foundations/Not for Profit• Municipality
– In-kind and budget
• School District
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• Development of IrvingYES– School support
• 4 high schools, 1 university, 1 community college
• Sponsor/Leader• Time• Student encouragement• Incentive• Commitment to continue• Funding
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• Development of IrvingYES– School support
• Student commitment– Input– Focus groups for methods of
communication– Leadership– Participation– Feedback
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• Development of IrvingYES– Lectures/activites
• Make them interesting• Make them interactive• Make them current• Invite guest speakers
– Specialists– Scientists– Experts
• Try to correspond with teaching lessons
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• Development of IrvingYES– Lectures/activities
• Make them impactful– Internal
» School gains– External
» Community gains
• Provide incentives– Gimmes– Takeaways– Rewards/recognition
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• Development of IrvingYES– Results
• Website • Expansion of recycling
– 4 schools– Irving ISD School Stadium
» 10 collection units• Student-led presentations• On campus community gardens• Rainwater harvesting• Students teaching peers• Schools take ownership of
program
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• Development of IrvingYES– Results
• Website – www.irvingyes.com– Current information– Eco-Studies– Resources
» Links» Articles
– Videos/photos– Online forum
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• Development of IrvingYES– Future
• Continue educational outreaching– Schedule lectures– North Lake hired consultant– Schools continue to embrace
program– Finish projects
» Rain barrel install» Herb garden install» Measure recycling» Distribute receivables
– Web enhancements12
Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• What did I discover?– Many had a good sense of
green, but saw it unrealistic
– Many had never been to a Farmers Market
– Many could taste the difference in bottled water
– Best of all…pleasantly surprised how many really wanted to be involved
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• What can you do?– Do your research and get
busy– Find campus staff/faculty
champions– Find teen champions
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• What can you do?– Ask for input and LISTEN– Keep an open mind– Create hands-on activities– Recognize and reward
– HAVE FUN!
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• Irving’s “greening”:
– Lady Bird Johnson Middle School – net zero energy
– Irving West Library – net zero energy
– 5 miles of LED solar powered street lights
– Green Seam Project– Interfaith Stewards Project– Green web – Lots of classes and activities
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• Links and Videos– IrvingYES website• www.irvingyes.com
– http://www.teensturninggreen.org/– http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/student.htm
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults
• City of IrvingFran Witte, Sr. Community Outreach Coord.
City of [email protected]
• ConsultantLori De La Cruz, [email protected]
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Environmental Accountability – Targeting Teens and Young Adults