KIDS IN CHARGE
The Youth Leadership Program, developed by California Waterfowl
Association (CWA), and supported in part by a CalServe grant through
the Elk Grove Unified School District, involves both high school
and elementary school students in a cooperative mentoring relationship,
where the older students take their knowledge and skills and pass
them on to the younger students in an exciting outdoor learning
environment. Using wetlands as the theme, students build their knowledge
of California’s wetlands and wildlife and become motivated,
active stewards of our state’s natural resources.
CWA’s Youth Leadership Program is addressing several
needs in the community.
• Students learn about their roles as stewards of our natural
resources by taking part in community action. This service-learning
component is an objective recommended by the California Department
of Education.
• Students participate in classroom and field sessions, work
in groups to promote team-building, and discover practical applications
for academic lessons.
• Basic learning is strengthened by utilizing the environment
as the central focus for academic programs, improving reading, math,
science, and social studies skills.
• Teens develop into community leaders by building communication
and presentation skills, instilling confidence, and promoting a
sense of ownership and civic responsibility.
• Teens are introduced to various career opportunities, interacting
with natural resource professionals, and learning the value of post-secondary
education.
In 2006, CWA conducted four Youth Leadership
programs, three in Elk Grove, and one in Woodland. In the spring,
15 students from Franklin High School participated in the training
and led 48 students from Morse Elementary School through an outdoor
educational experience called Marsh Madness at Stone Lakes National
Wildlife Refuge. In the fall, the program involved 33 students from
Elk Grove High School, leading a total of 126 students at two separate
events at Stone Lakes – 78 students from Markofer Elementary,
and 48 students from Morse Elementary. In addition, the program
expanded into Yolo County, with 21 students from Woodland High School
mentoring 32 students from Freeman Elementary School in Woodland.
So far in 2007 CWA has worked with 53 high school students from Woodland and Elk Grove. Woodland High School students, in partnership with CWA, hosted a Marsh Madness event for 70 students from Freeman Elementary. Students from Calvine High School, a continuation school in Elk Grove, trained and hosted a Marsh Madness event for 46 students from Leimbach Elementary, also of Elk Grove.
As this program continues and expands, plans include using this
program as a model and replicating it in other districts and counties
throughout California in future years.
For more information on this program, or to learn how you can participate,
please contact the Education Coordinator at cwaeducation@calwaterfowl.org
or call (916) 648-1406
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