“Restoring Environmental Balance to the Techno-mersion

Paradigm”

Tom OcchipintiEnvironmental Education Coordinator

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

• By the time the average American child has reached the age of five, he or she has spent more time watching television than the average college student spends attaining a degree.

Dr. Herb Broda, Education Professor at Ashland University

The very generation that will face the most difficult environmental issues will have the least exposure, understanding, and

appreciation for the environment.

Health Risks

Increased time spent

indoors

Increased time spent

indoors

Sleep disorders, decreased attention

span

Sleep disorders, decreased attention

span

Obesity,early onset

diabetes

Obesity,early onset

diabetes

Vitamin D deficiencyVitamin D deficiency

Kevin Coyle, National Wildlife Federation

An hour per day of outdoor and physical play and

activity is recommended.Centers for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatrics, and National Wildlife

Federation

A Sense of Place

Using the local community as the classroom

“Expanding classrooms. Strengthening communities.”

Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative

• Discovering PLACE• GRAND Learning Network• Grand Traverse

Stewardship Initiative• Groundswell• Lake Superior

Stewardship Initiative• Northeast Michigan Great

Lakes Stewardship Initiative

• Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition

• West Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative

Michigan No Child Left Inside

• Environmental Literacy– MORE Blueprint

• Marketing and Outreach

• Outdoor Learning• Capacity Building• Communication• Steering

An association of professional environmental and outdoor educators promoting

environmental literacy through education.

Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD)

• Provides a large network of support for communities and businesses

• Involved with natural resources at the local level

• 4-H Youth Conservation Council

Network of 33 math andscience centers to provide

resources to educators in the fields of math and science

Environmental Action Councils

The Stewardship Network:

Connecting in Michigan to protect our natural areas

• Grassroots Organization

• 8 Regional Clusters

• 4,000 Michigan Partners

Environmental education curriculum unitstargeted toward Michigan middle schools

MEECS

To provide students with the skills and understanding needed to make informed decisions based on:

• Science concepts• Economics and ecological sustainability

• The role of government• Stewardship and pollution prevention

• The impact and consequences of individual decisions

• Data-based decision-making

A Need for Environmental Education

For the first time in history, we are facedwith the real possibility that life-spans forthe youngest generation may struggle to

reach current life spans projected formiddle-aged adults.