SPRING 2011 ECO-STEWARDSHIPS, EXCURSIONS and EVENTS

Tutored by Nature Inc's success stories

Sts.Peter and Paul Elementary students - seen here water-colour sketching something that connects to their favourite places on Upper Cooksville Creek Watershed. See images of their Eco-Stewardship and St.Maria Goretti's Eco-Stewardship of Upper Fletcher's subwatershed on the slide-shows (opposite page of blogger). Tutored by Nature also was happy to develop and support great teams from the Toronto District Sep.School Board's 'Take Me Outside' programme (Downsview Park, June 2011) and Fallingbrook M.S./Rick Hanson S.S./Creditview Wetland Stewardship  Committee - such tireless efforts and leadership made The Creditview Wetland BogFest so successful. Great presentations at the EcoFest Stewardship Tent guys. Our watersheds in Peel are in trouble. What are the possibilities for the sustainability of these important ecostewardships?

LOOK FOR US: UPCOMINGEVENTS SUPPORTED BY TUTORED BY NATURE

Thursday, March 24, 2011: Friends of the Credit Conservation Awards to "celebrate important work done by individuals and groups across the Credit River Watershed." TbyN Inc partners receiving awards include 'The Creditview Wetland Stewardship Committee'; Fallingbrook Middle School (two awards for environmental leadership and long term stewardship of the Creditview Wetland); and teacher Yvette Tetrault (education leadership involvement with Sts.Peter and Paul's stewardship of Cooksville Creek watershed and St.Maria Goretti's stewardship of Fletcher's Creek subwatershed

CREDITVIEW WETLAND COMMUNITY - 3rd ANNUAL BOGFEST, MAY 28, 2011

THE CREDITVIEW WETLAND - MISSISSAUGA'S JEWEL

Fallingbrook Middleschool and Rick Hanson Secondary School - in partnership with The Creditview Wetland Stewardship Committee, City of Mississauga and CVC are planning for an extra special 'BOGFEST', Saturday, May 28, 2011. More info to come.

TUTORED BY NATURE: Eco-Stewardship Excursions

Educational theory and teacher practice linked to development of Ecological Literacy leads to three important premises that direct Tutored by Nature Inc. excursions:
1. Ecoliteracy - "all education is environmental education...what is included or excluded...students learn that they are part of or apart from the natural world" (David Orr) - effective ecoliteracy happens outdoors where children participate - personally interact in Nature's classroom and through ecological stewardship experience.
2. Children in Middle Childhood stage of perceptual development (approx.6 - 12 yrs) need to experience Nature's relationship lessons through participation - extending their participatory consciousness.
3. Nature requires complete personal attention in Her natural classroom. She will then provide for the "sheer sensory experience" - meaningfully and in a lasting & connecting way. So, as Henry David Thoreau once said..."What business have I in the woods if I am thinking of something outside of the woods." (H.D. Thoreau, Walking, 1862, p.5) - a great lesson to learn through experience.
4. "Nothing lives unto itself" (Rachel Carson).

FLOW OF THE EXCURSION:
Meet and greet: Tutored by Nature Inc meets the class locally outdoors (within school walking distance) - onsite for purposes developing community, comfort, safety, continuity and to connect to the 'awe'.
Focus: Continuing with the local connection - the sheer sensory experience that awaits children in this local urban wilderness is prepped through a focus activity - an ecology game, initiative task, and/or physical sensing activity.
Direct Experience Activity - Time for the personal connections... students personally observe and record their interactions with the local watershed/subwatershed natural community - opportunity to discover the self in relationship; to sense the local ecosystem's healthiness and ecological interactions, to assess their personal impact/footprint, etc. Activity includes 'sauntering', 'tracking', 'solo-ing in the open blind' (silent observation techique within an urban wilderness space), Caring by participating in a watershed stewardship event - that will in some way support local habitats, and also to 'Sketch, Paint & Shoot’ (pencil sketch, water-colour sketch and photography) - a great way to get very close to nature, take her in and create self impressions.
Circle: Students meet to debrief in a 'Euro-Centric' traditional aboriginal circle for purpose of sharing direct experience expressively (oral and written). Circle will link their experience to the class's  developing a group theme or identifying and solving a local ecological problem (e.g., mystery, ecological footprint, ecological stewardship, climate change, riparian/water-course health, local biodiversity and relationships, etc.)
Materials - the Young Naturalist's Log Book, a blindfold, a camera, writing/sketch materials, water-colout kit, binoculars, magnifying lenses, and/or compass. Stewardship equipment and materials are supplied by established partnerships (CVC, City of Mississuaga, Tutored by Nature Inc, EcoSparks, etc.)

PART-TIME STUDENT EMPLOYMENT & LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY

"DOORS OPEN"  Info Session / Workshop  

When: Sat., March 26, 2011 (2:00-5:00 pm)

Where: 35 Front Street South, Mississauga

What: Students looking for experience
           in the field of Eco-Leadership.  
           part-time employment (payed position)
           and volunteer mentor positions.           




CONTACT TUTORED BY NATURE INC if interested  (Gary Mascola) at tbyn@rogers.com or call 647 388 5155. Be sure to check out this blogspot - gain a sense of what your potential eco- leadership role might involve. PERSONAL QUALITIES? You're ecoliterate and understand the value of Ecological Stewardship. You're dependable, passionate and confident enough to successfully  leader children (JK-Gr.8) and their teachers on local watershed excursions. You continue to develop your good communication skills, creativity, initiative, dependability and 'stick-to-it' attitude. Training begins on-site, April 2011.

You will need to make yourself available during the school day - a great 'fit' for secondary school students in a Coop or Leadership Programme and University/College students currently enrolled in Education or Environmental Programmes.  University aged students require a Police Check to work with the children. Invite the challenge - contact tbyn@rogers.com  and attend the Doors Open Session!!

 

TUTORED BY NATURE INC.- ECO-STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMMES-2010 YEAR-END REVIEW

Sts.Peter and Paul grades 5-8 came to know that 'stewardship' is much more than an event. They sauntered, set up open-blinds, tracked life forms, monitored - made connections. All had fun learning and concerning themselves with the relationships on Cooksville Creek's riparian and watercourse. Such amazing young Naturalists to plant over 200 shrubs on the riparian - supported by CVC's Conservation Youth Corps (CYC). This school will continue its community stewardship (gr. 2 to 8) - spring 2011. The grade 7 and 8's will also gather data in a Benthic Study and learn more about the Creek's water quality.

Peel Homeschoolers (left - celebration circle) took on their stewardship of Fletcher's Creek subwatershed (Upper, Mid, and Lower) in a big way and with a great deal of passion. Damian, Pauline, Peachy and Laura were so instrumental in putting this group together. The children participated in two stewardship events - Fletcher's Valley (June) and  Credit River Flood Plain (mouth of Fletcher's - October) - partnered with CYC and Mississauga Parks and Forests . EcoFest was fun and a great learning experience as well.

Roberta Bondar grade 2 students (June 25) explored both retention ponds near-east and west of the school. They sauntered and water-colour sketched these close-by urban wilderness - urban encircled places. TbyN's staff Samantha and Gary never cease to be amazed when exploring and discovering with children in 'Middle Childhood'. Bondar's budding naturalists were no exception. The children, in their wonder, exitement and focus came to know that life here is as diverse as is the established relationships that bind them.

Tutored by Nature Inc's staff involved elementary and secondary students in 'SPS' workshops at the Winter and Fall EcoBuzz conferences. Check out the amazing art work and connections made on the retention pond behind Fletcher's Meadow S.S. We also involved community families at the Creditview Wetland BogFest (May 30) and Peel 'EcoFest'  (June). Next spring - WOW... St.Maria Goretti's students and teachers (JK - gr.8) will become stewards of Fletcher's Creek Subwatershed as they participate in the stewardship excursions on McLaughlin Valley (upper Fletcher's Creek) during April and May 2011. Can't wait.

Important DPCDSB Teacher Connect: Sts.Peter and Paul/St.Maria Goretti students and staff and Tutored by Nature partnerships had such great leadership - initiative and support from  grade 7 teacher Yvette Tetrault.' On Ya', Yvette!

ECOBUZZ - Sketch, Paint & Shoot Gift Certificate Winners



Some 'very special' art was created at Tutored by Nature Inc's workshops at EcoBuzz's Conference, November 4, 2010. All winning art/photography and honourable mentions can be viewed - see slide show.

The winning sketch ($85.00 gift certificate from Henry's) is titled "Boundaries" (above left - Heart Lake S.S.). It's difficult to believe that this 'naturalist/artist' composed the work in 30 minutes - move over 'Group of Seven'. WOW!. The 'Photo Series' winner (see above right - Streetsville S.S.) included 3 amazing subjects - titled "Leaves", "Red Plant", and "Canada Geese" were also very special ($85.00 gift certificate from Henry's).

The Naturalist Group award (4 - $20.00 gift certificates from DeSerres and Tutored by Nature Inc). I can give away the titles/schools for the work submitted - pencil sketch "Nature's forgotten Friendship" (Streetsville S.S.) -  pencil sketch "Beautiful Berries" (Mountain Ash M.S.) - photograph "wandering violet" (Streetville S.S.) - water-colour sketch "Water Fowl" (Chinguacousy S.S.) Can you guess if it's your team?

FALLINGBROOK STUDENTS CONTINUE THEIR Eco-STEWARDSHIP OF THE CREDITVIEW WETLAND

City of Mississauaga, The Creditview Wetland Stewardship Committee and Fallingbrook Middle School's Environment Club teamed-up - to clean-up the litter left by the community on the North Cultural Meadow of the Creditview Wetland.

Over the past summer and fall, much litter has accumulated in the North Cultural Meadow and was begging to be cleaned up. Kevin Saldanha of the Creditview Wetland Stewardship Committee has organized the local community to be participants of the City's LitterNot programme. Fallingbrook and The City of Mississauga Parks and Forests were quick to act. What a very important initiative and action by all.

Fallingbrook Middle School is now in its 6th year of stewarding this amazing jewel in the middle of Mississauga. They understand the importance of such a role. Jessika Corkum-Gorill and Lindsey Jennings - City Parks and Forests, and Fallingbrook teachers Mr. Zirnis,   Mr. Browne,   Mr. McCann and Mrs. Stober   support and advise   these   'action-minded environmentalist' student-leaders in a very necessary action. The students at Fallingbrook are very, very special wrt environment stewardship of this Wetland.

EcoBuzz Conference - Fall 2010

SKETCH, PAINT & SHOOT: TAKING A CLOSER LOOK at NATURE Tutored by Nature was so amazed by students who participated in our workshop at EcoBuzz. Christine Ogley, Samantha Fischer and Gary provided these amazing Peel 'Young Environmentalist Leaders' with an opportunity to take a close look at Fletcher's Valley retention pond - to capture the biodiverse relationships that make up this 'in-the-concrete jungle' tiny ecosystem, than to recreate their perceptions through an art form of their choice. American Toads, 'Bunny Rabbits', Staghorn Sumacs and that very interesting 'Human Technological' island in the middle of the pond...captured our attention.

LINKING CURRICULUM TO NATURE'S TUTORIALS

LINKING CURRICULUM TO NATURE'S TUTORIALS: Tutored by Nature Inc's vignettes that link curriculum to local watershed experiences will be included on this blogsite over the next five months. Topics will include: "How to go into Nature" (paying close attention); "What is art for?" (the purpose to include art - pencil sketch, water-colour sketch, and photography in the TbyN Inc's excursion experiences); "The art, language and science of experience - the value of the Young Naturalist's Handbook"; "The Ecological Stewardship act"; and "Local Nature experience-the role of assessment" - ideas to bridge curriulum and Nature's tutorials.