GREENVILLE, N.Y. — As part of an effort to enhance after school education at Greenville Elementary School an exciting new monthly ecology club has been launched. Two sessions of the club were created to help accommodate the incredible number of students interested in the program. Run by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Natural Environment Educator, Andrew Randazzo, the club has so far covered topics on pollution in our watershed as well as map and compass.
Around 18 3rd through 5th graders excitedly attend each session to learn about ecology and our environment in a hands-on manner. Students learned about different sources of pollution using an Enviroscape model designed to simulate a watershed. Each participant got the opportunity to take part in both making pollution flow as well as finding ways to stop it using this interactive model.
Ecology club members also got the opportunity to learn about the basics of map and compass. As students increasingly grow up in a digitized world they are rarely exposed to the use of such important tools. These are tools that can help them to embrace the outdoors and become stewards of our natural environment.
The Greenville Ecology Club would not be possible without support from the Greenville GATE Committee. Use of the Enviroscape model was made possible through the generous financial support of The Windham Foundation. The next session of the Greenville Elementary Ecology Club will take place in February, exploring the topic of bird migration.
Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities. The programs provided by this organization are partially funded by monies received from the Counties of Columbia and Greene.
4-H is New York’s only youth development program directly connected to the technological advances and the latest research at Cornell University. 4-H participants learn leadership, citizenship and life skills through hands-on projects in three primary program areas: science and technology; healthy living; and citizenship. To find out more about 4-H and youth programs in Columbia and Greene Counties, contact us at 518-828-3346 or Columbiagreene@cornell.edu or visit our website,www.ccecolumbiagreene.org. You can also “Like” us on Facebook…Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties.
—Andrew Randazzo, 4-H Natural Environment Educator
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties
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