History of the Wild Treasures Program
The Early Years of Wild Treasures: Sustainability, Naturally
The first year that students engaged in Wild Treasures: Sustainability, Naturally was 2000. For seven years, the program was directed by a graduate student in the Science Teacher Certification program in the Department of Environmental Studies at Antioch University New England. Each participating class could earn up to $1,500 toward the purchasing of equipment and services that helped students' research their school's sustainable practices or transform their proposal into action. Classes that proved they took significant action earned a Governor's Sustainability Award from either Vermont or New Hampshire.
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“Most impressive to me was the understanding they gained of how the local political process works and how they can work within that process to bring about change. By developing proposals that they first brought to their building principal and then to the local school board, these students learned how those in positions of power evaluate and respond to proposals. This experience led them to ask themselves and develop comprehensive answers to the questions and concerns of policy makers. That they were able to do so successfully is testimony not only to the leadership of their classroom teacher, but also to the structure of the program, which builds in important incentives for the students to work effectively within the political process.” — Lisa Cox, School Board Chair & Vermont State Board of Education member
The Challenge TrailFrom 2000 to 2003, classes would begin their Wild Treasures experience at the Challenge Trail located at the Keene Municipal Recovery Center and Transfer Station. There, among the roaring sounds and constant activities of our waste stream, small groups of 5th-8th graders meandered along a trail where they tried to solve a variety of surprising problems designed to introduce them to the principles of sustainability. When they solved all the problems, they left with their first of three $500 awards!
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"They barely stopped to eat, pulling snacks out of backpacks for a few bites as we hiked along in the woods--too curious about what challenge lie ahead to stop. Changed by our work at the "Challenge Trail" a special magic returned to the classroom with us.” — Karen DiIorio-Bowen, Grade 6 Teacher at Oak Grove School, Brattleboro, VT |
“Wild Treasures is a meticulously crafted adventure that works through an adroit blending of doing and thinking, discovery and instruction, collaborative work and competition against the clock, the devastatingly serious and the playful. The three-hour adventure is fun, but the greatest pleasure is intrinsic, as the children discover the big ideas and made them their own.” — Heidi Watts, Professor Emerita at Antioch University New England
Wild Treasures in the Classroom
As times changed, so did the Wild Treasures program. In 2004, Wild Treasures: Sustainability, Naturally adapted to be completely doable in the classroom, locally or anywhere in the country. This change allowed the program to be much more flexible; participants were able implement the full-year curriculum without sacrificing other science teaching goals, or pick and choose pieces of the program that interested them. Local participants continued to work closely with graduate students from Antioch University New England as Teaching Assistants who helped facilitate the classroom experiences. Although the financial aid aspect of the Wild Treasures program dried up, participants requested funding from their school boards to support those components of their proposal that required financial support.
“We met this morning with the director of food service for our school district and he was FABULOUS: 1) We can participate in selecting vendors in the fall season and pay only the difference between the conventional and organic products. 2) He is impressed by all the work we've put into this and will attend the dinner Tuesday. 3) He will put our facts on the backs of all the menus next fall. 4) If we increase the number of students buying breakfast and lunch on the organic days, we will have to pay less for the food and he will begin providing organic days at other schools in the district.” — Theresa Majoy, 5th grade teacher, Emerson School
A New Spin on Wild Treasures: Climate Change
With the acquisition of new grant money, Wild Treasures was reinvigorated with a new and more timely focus: Climate Change. Utilizing the same structure of Wild Treasures: Sustainability, Naturally in the classroom, Wild Treasures: Climate Change teaches students the core scientific concepts required to understand this unprecedented global challenge. We are excited to work with students, locally and across the country, to evaluate and improve their schools' resiliency in the face of our changing planet.