Green Venture is a partner of Giving Tuesday, the international day of generosity happening on November 30, 2021.
Every Tuesday this month, we’ll be catching up with Green Venture staff to highlight some of our programs that would not be possible without the support of our donors and sponsors.
Today we’re catching up with our Manager of Environmental Education Programs, Heather, and our Education Program Coordinator, Megan!
What’s your role at Green Venture?
I develop and oversee our environmental education programs, with the support of an amazing team.
Tell us why your programs are important!
Our programs provide learning opportunities for Hamilton residents of all ages. We work hard to help people build a toolkit that will help them make a positive difference on the environment and in their community. Over the last several months we have updated our education programs to improve our virtual workshops and transition our focus to experiential learning opportunities, which we hope will make for a more meaningful and engaging experience for participants.
What is your favourite part about working for Green Venture?
I love that no two days are quite the same. I feel very fortunate to be doing work that I am passionate about and that I believe makes a positive difference for our planet. One of my favourite parts about working for Green Venture is the people – those I work with, those we collaborate with, and those who participate in our programs. We have such a great team, and I get to meet so many inspiring people. As the Manager of Education I support others in their environmental learning, but I also learn new things every day.
Who would you recommend your programs to?
We have programs for people of all ages, all across Hamilton. We have many with curriculum ties for kindergarten to grade 12, an outdoor education drop-off program for primary children, an extracurricular Stewardship & Professional Skills program for grades 11 and 12, a drop-in environmental conversation and stewardship program for youth ages 14-24, certifications for high school students in the SHSM program, and a Community Science program for anyone who wants to participate in collective action for the environment.
Any program milestones?
We recently launched our Community Science program. Our first project focuses on removing invasive LDD moth egg sacs. So far, participants have removed 381 egg sacs, totalling approximately 114,300 eggs. That means that the school groups and community members who have participated have saved approximately 114,300 square metres of leaf surface area. We can’t wait to see the continued impact of this project over the coming months!
What’s in store next?
Our SHSM (Specialist High Skills Major) certifications are a new offering. We are looking forward to working with Hamilton’s SHSM students and supporting their environmental learning. I also look forward to meeting new people and supporting them in their environmental stewardship initiatives. We don’t yet know what to expect in the new year, or what programs public health guidelines will allow us to run, but I can’t wait to find out what the new year will bring!
What’s your role at Green Venture?
I’m one of Green Venture’s Education Program Coordinators. That means I get to work with the education team to create, promote, and teach environmental education programs. The programs I work on the most are Fresh Air for Kids and Nature Kids, but I get to help with all of our education programs. I also help design and deliver different campaigns throughout the year.
Tell us why your programs are important!
I have always believed in the importance of environmental education. You protect what you know, and it’s more important than ever for children to learn about the environment and how they can help protect it.
Learning About Vermicomposting with Nature Kids
What excites you most about your work?
I love talking to youth about the environment and climate change, and hearing about the amazing projects they’re working on. We have a lot to learn from them!
What’s a common misconception about the projects you work on?
I think that a lot of the time, we’re intimidated by climate change and environmental activism because it’s such a huge problem to fix. The trick is to start small. Try Meatless Mondays, or replace a disposable product with a reusable one. We can’t do everything, but we can all do something.
Who would you recommend your programs to?
If you’re an elementary school teacher looking to engage your class in environmental education and activism, try Fresh Air for Kids and watch them create their own campaign. If you’re a high school teacher with Specialist High Skills Major students, sign up for one (or more) of our SHSM certifications.
Any program milestones?
This fall, we were able to welcome Nature Kids back to EcoHouse for the first time since the pandemic began. We had a blast teaching in person and exploring EcoHouse with our group of adventurers.
Stay in the loop with our education newsletter! Sign up here.
We were thrilled to be able to welcome small groups of visitors back to EcoHouse in person this year, and we’re looking forward to hosting, educating, and connecting with more Hamiltonians in 2022. That’s why this year’s GivingTuesday Fundraiser will support our youth outdoor education programs at EcoHouse and in our community.
Want to support our programs? You can donate any amount or sign up to become a monthly donor here.
