(1888PressRelease)
February 28, 2009 - ORANGE, Calif. – Orange County-based non-profits, the Outdoor Education Center, a 210 acre, one-of-a-kind themed outdoor learning facility, and It’s Your Environment, a premier eco-educational online community where young people share and suggest environment-saving projects while participating in online competitions, announced they will work together teaching environmental awareness and conservation. Their mission is to instill in kids—ages 6 to 13—the idea that they can save their world. The Outdoor Education Center will provide an operations base for It’s Your Environment with state-of-the-art facilities for learning and gatherings, while It’s Your Environment will provide programming ideas and participants.
“From the first day we met Barbara Barnes of It’s Your Environment, we knew we found an ally in our mission to teach kids how to care for their local environment through science,” says Christine Kirk, director of the Outdoor Education Center. “We’re glad we can provide a place for their local meetings, awards presentations and fairs as well as a place where they can learn more about land, energy, water, weather and waste reduction eco-projects via our Mining Camp, Ranch Camp and Astronomy Camp.”
“I am excited about partnering with the Outdoor Education Center,” said Barbara Barnes, founder and board member of It’s Your Environment. “Their hands-on conservation and community service projects for students and indoor/outdoor training facilities for teachers and youth group leaders will mesh nicely with our innovative online student projects and professional development workshops. This real-world and virtual collaboration will enable us to demonstrate to young people locally, nationally and globally that ‘It’s Your Environment!’”
Participants in It’s Your Environment projects and competitions learn that they can save their environment while winning community recognition.
The first shared project to come out of the Outdoor Education Center and It’s Your Environment alliance was part of a tree planting held at the Outdoor Education Center on January 10, 2009. A St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Parish youth group participated. Each participant received a specially designed It’s Your Environment Patch. Soon, a St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Parish project Web page will be included in the It’s Your Environment Virtual Fair. Judging for the It’s Your Environment Virtual Fair will take place May 5 – 8 with awards presented on May 15.
Workshops for teachers and youth group leaders are scheduled at the Outdoor Education Center with the goal of signing 30 youth groups to compete in the Virtual Environment Fair. See the It’s Your Environment Web page at www.itsyourenvironment.org for more information.
Outdoor Education Programs
According to numerous studies, one of the best ways for children to learn and retain information is by having hands-on experiences with the subjects they are studying. Activities provided at the Outdoor Education Center will help build confidence and character in local children whether they are from Scout organizations, YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, churches, other youth groups or schools.
The Outdoor Education Center opened January 15, with limited day and overnight programming and will offer full programming in July 2009. Because the Outdoor Education Center is comprised of three education centers--Astronomy Camp, Ranch Camp and Mining Camp--students can visit the facility at least three times and have a unique learning experience each time.
· The Outdoor Education Center’s programming meets the California State standards for outdoor science curriculum and was developed to support a range of subject areas, including science, local history and cultural studies.
· The Outdoor Education Center’s three themed camps were designed to provide local youth the opportunity to learn about the Southern California natural environment, what is above the ground, at ground level and underground, through first-hand wilderness experiences.
· The Outdoor Education Center is the only facility in Orange County with a complete outdoor education program.
· The Outdoor Education Center will be the third largest educational campus in Orange County behind the University of California at Irvine and California State University, Fullerton.
· When fully operational, the Outdoor Education Center is expected to serve more than 13,000 young people annually.
About It’s Your Environment
Launched in January 2008, It’s Your Environment, Inc., a not–for-profit organization, has created a world leading, premier eco-educational online community. Students, youth groups, classrooms, clubs and schools, around the United States partner with environmentally conscious corporations, foundations and community groups to research environmental issues, communicate with peers and environmental experts, conduct school/community services and using their Web pages to share projects that can be replicated locally and globally. This eco-educational Web community provides project suggestions for water, energy, land, zero waste, weather and air quality. The projects are judged during Virtual Environment Fairs sponsored by It’s Your Environment partners, including Toshiba America Information Systems, Con Agra Foods, the University of California at Irvine, and Southern California Edison. For more information, go to www.ItsYourEnvironment.org.
About the Outdoor Education Center
The Outdoor Education Center provides Southern California schools and youth organizations a local and more affordable venue for both overnight outdoor education and day trips at an up-to-date facility featuring many unique programming elements. It is located at the end of Jamboree Road adjacent to Irvine Regional Park at 2 Irvine Park Road in Orange. For more information please call 800-436-2119 or go to: www.outdooreducationcenter.org.
Editor’s Note: To arrange interviews or site tours, or to request images, contact Donna St. Jean Conti at 949-290-0622 or DConti ( @ ) StContiCommunications dot com.
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