Description:
Who better to learn from than Mother Nature?! Research shows that environmental education helps with children’s social/adaptability skills, improves learning and gives our youth a better appreciation for the world around them. With this knowledge, the state of Georgia has incorporated two environmental learning tools; Project Learning Tree (PLT) and Project WILD. PLT focuses on trees, forests and ecological concepts and WILD centers on animals, food chains, and other key wildlife topics.
What started out as a project for two UGA students is becoming a reality with River Ridge Elementary teachers, Mrs. Dawn Jeffers, who is PLT certified, and Mr. Brandon Williams, who both want to share their passion and knowledge of the environment with their students by means of a nature trail that includes stations and outdoor classrooms. The hope is, that an outdoor learning environment will allow the students to have an opportunity to see, connect and learn about their outdoor environment with a new approach. This innovative program is finally starting to take shape, with a theme of “A Walk in the Woods”.
The EMC Augusta Survey team is pleased to be a part of this project by donating their time for design and implementation, as a gift to the community. EMC is assisting with the layout to submit to the county school board for approval, as well as getting the clearing crews lined up to make the project a reality. This project has special meaning for EMC Augusta Survey Manager, Richard E. Baldwin, RLS, as his children have all attended River Ridge, with his youngest currently enrolled in the 5th grade.
