OUR FUTURE SPEAKS
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Featured Speakers: Youth from Cool Learning Experience
The Smith Nature Symposium opens with the most important voices in this series: our future. Young leaders from Cool Learning Experience, a distinguished environmental education program and partner with Brushwood Center, share their vision for a more just and sustainable future using art and poetry.
Featured Speakers: Youth from Cool Learning Experience
The Smith Nature Symposium opens with the most important voices in this series: our future. Young leaders from Cool Learning Experience, a distinguished environmental education program and partner with Brushwood Center, share their vision for a more just and sustainable future using art and poetry.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Cool Learning Experience 2020 Nature Buddies, Grades 6-9
The Planet Protectors are comprised of twelve curious 6th and 7th grade students who have been learning about the life cycle of plastics and exploring food cultures and issues around the world. When not creating their blogspot, these nature buddies are becoming more aware of their feelings, thoughts, and actions.
The Future Champions (8th and 9th graders) are an inquisitive bunch who are designing their own websites. These youth are also learning about and leading an ongoing oral history project about the Waukegan lakefront and its surrounding community.
Both groups of students created art with CLE Teen Emerging Artist Chailen “Showy Orchis” Ponder and poetry with Visiting Poet Hope Kyle.
About Cool Learning Experience
Cool Learning Experience (CLE) is a nature-based learning program that practices six core values: educating children, celebrating nature, supporting families, building community, inspiring well-being, and championing futures. For 13 years, CLE has educated children using a place-based curriculum that pairs content with eco-excursions to local treasures, such as Lake Michigan. CLE children and their families celebrate nature by cultivating a love for the outdoors and promoting sustainability best practices. We support families by providing environmental, social, and cultural learning experiences for children in the Waukegan area. We strive to build community through partnerships with local and regional organizations and businesses, as well as by holding events open to our neighbors. We inspire well-being by helping children build their social and emotional toolkit and designing collaborative learning opportunities. CLE champions futures by preparing our young people to be educated and concerned citizens who are empowered to think critically and become agents of change.
The Planet Protectors are comprised of twelve curious 6th and 7th grade students who have been learning about the life cycle of plastics and exploring food cultures and issues around the world. When not creating their blogspot, these nature buddies are becoming more aware of their feelings, thoughts, and actions.
The Future Champions (8th and 9th graders) are an inquisitive bunch who are designing their own websites. These youth are also learning about and leading an ongoing oral history project about the Waukegan lakefront and its surrounding community.
Both groups of students created art with CLE Teen Emerging Artist Chailen “Showy Orchis” Ponder and poetry with Visiting Poet Hope Kyle.
About Cool Learning Experience
Cool Learning Experience (CLE) is a nature-based learning program that practices six core values: educating children, celebrating nature, supporting families, building community, inspiring well-being, and championing futures. For 13 years, CLE has educated children using a place-based curriculum that pairs content with eco-excursions to local treasures, such as Lake Michigan. CLE children and their families celebrate nature by cultivating a love for the outdoors and promoting sustainability best practices. We support families by providing environmental, social, and cultural learning experiences for children in the Waukegan area. We strive to build community through partnerships with local and regional organizations and businesses, as well as by holding events open to our neighbors. We inspire well-being by helping children build their social and emotional toolkit and designing collaborative learning opportunities. CLE champions futures by preparing our young people to be educated and concerned citizens who are empowered to think critically and become agents of change.
