Environmental Education - Rochester, NY area

RochesterEnvironment.com

Programs & information that inform the public on various aspects of our area's environment: 

 

Page Contents: NewsLinks | Discussions | Institutions of Higher Learning in our area | Get Educated on our Environment | Useful Environmental Information | Local programs on our environment |

An Environmental Education  

Most educational programs in our colleges and universities probably include some science courses, but probably not an environmental course as a general educational requirement. This, and an ethics requirement for business majors, is woefully lacking in an educational system trying to survive into today’s economic world.  Note: I didn’t say that our institutions were not aligning ourselves with other world-class educational curriculums to produce students who will be able to complete in today’s market.  We may or may not be cranking out über breadwinners.  That may not be clear until the financial dust settles around the world.  

Environmental EducationBut, whether or not you believe institutions of higher education exist for people to get high-paying jobs, fit into our society, know their cultures and others, or think well on their feet with a smart gadget in their hand, you must include graduates who can (and will) rationally assess the health of their environment.  In the September 2009 edition of Harpers Magazine “Dehumanized, When Math and Science Rule the School,” Mark Slouka makes the case that the humanities have suffered in our colleges as our country only focuses of what they think we need to compete.  In our strivings to compete, Slouka says, we are losing what is to best to be human.  I submit that we are also losing something more basic: the core of our existence.  For, whatever one’s beliefs or interests, we are among the billions of biological creatures on this planet that must have clean air, water, and land.   

In today’s world of 6.5 billion people a well educated person should have a firm grasp of our biological underpinnings.  It may not get you a job, a mate, popularity, or allow you to be a stunning dinner speaker, but it will allow you to intelligently sift through news, environmental studies, and reports of early signs that our environmental systems are shutting down—as many argue they are.  The climate is warming (despite crazy radio talk rhetoric) along with acidification of the oceans, the loss of biodiversity, and much more. A people who cannot tell (or don’t even pay attention) that things are not going well with the system that keeps them alive is a people on their way out.   

So, if you missed that day in college when your professor mentioned during a math or computer class that she wasn’t opening the windows that day because of an ozone alert, you might want to attend one of the many programs on the environment in our area this fall.  Check Environment Calendar | Rochester, NY | RochesterEnvironment.com .  There are a lot of good programs going on by non-profit groups, universities, and our local governments, including a lecture series to draw attention to important environmental topics by the town of Irondequoit.  

Of course, we cannot make up for decades of not putting environmental studies high on the agenda in our universities, nor demand that a sizeable (for that is what it will take) portion of humanity to take note of the vast unhealthy changes we’ve made in the last couple of centuries.  We are a ‘free’ people, in pursuit of Happiness, Liberty, and just trying to get by.  But Mother Nature is a demanding parent: Ignorance of her laws will have no effect on her rules.  One of these programs might help your reconnect with Her.

 

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Environmental Education Discussions

Join me on my blog "Environmental Thoughts" for these discussion on Environmental Education:

  • An Environmental Education Most educational programs in our colleges and universities probably include some science courses, but probably not an environmental course as a general educational requirement. This, and an ethics requirement for business majors, is woefully lacking in an educational system trying to survive into today’s economic world. Note: I didn’t say that our institutions were not aligning ourselves with other world-class educational curriculums to produce students who will be able to complete in today’s market. We may or may not be cranking out über breadwinners. That may not be clear until the financial dust settles around the world. more...
  • Critical Feedback Requested about our community: Critical Feedback Requested about our community: We here at RochesterEnvironment.com wish to remind you again of an important website that has been launched in our area. ACT Rochester has been a long time in the works and is modeled on other cities who have worked on this concept of provide communities of important indicator that will determine among other things Education, Environment, Technology, Transportation, Health, Public Safety, etc. This site is an on-going, long-term project to provide not only community groups and governmental bodies, but you the citizen who cares about your community, with critical data (not opinions and news, but expertly acquired data). more...
  • Environmental News, Wouldn’t It Be Nice? Wouldn’t it be nice if Rochester, like some other cities in the US had a separate section in their newspaper, or other media, for just Environmental News? The Toledo Blade has a section totally devoted to environmental stories and keeps them listed online for a long time. Doesn’t seem like a tall order, usually one good reporter devoted exclusively to an entire community’s environmental health would do. more...
  • Coyote Dread: Because the issue of the Eastern Coyotes among us has come up in the news, I wanted to make a reference to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation who reminds us the coyotes are an ‘integral part of our ecosystem.’  As we have exterminated most of the top predators in our area in the last couple of centuries (bears, wolves, cougars used to rule), we have a proliferation of deer and our environment has altered a lot.  My point is that when it comes to coyotes there are much misinformation and prejudice about this creature whirling about—sometimes resulting in coyote killing contests.  This is not how we should be reacting to ‘integral part of our ecosystem’ in this time.  We should be reacting as stewards of our environment, which we are now.  Coyote Conflicts - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation The Eastern coyote is firmly established in New York. They live in New York as an integral part of our ecosystem. People and coyotes can usually coexist if the natural fear of people that coyotes have is maintained.
  • We need more Environmental Studies One of RochesterEnvironment.com’s stated goals is “To increase independent and objective studies of our environment to find out the affect of industrial pollution, sprawl, invasive species and other assaults that would affect our environment.” –from About Rochester Environment.com. For we cannot possibly solve the question, is our species living sustainably? if we do not know what effects our human footprints are having on the planet. By footprints, I mean the effects of our industrial chemicals, the wholesale changes in our air, the paving over of our planet, etc. more...

 

Grassroots

Grassroots is a non-profit organization founded in 2000 by Patti and Doug Wood. Patti is an educator, author and environmental advocate, and serves as a Visiting Scholar at Adelphi University where she lectures on environmental health at the School of Nursing and in the Department of Chemistry. Doug is a composer, author and documentary filmmaker, former President of the Production Music Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

Rochester area Institutions of higher learning

Rochester, NY area is unique in the number and quality of institutions on higher learning.  All 'get it' on our environment and many have specific programs on Environmental Education.  Some are developing programs that will help students get green jobs for the future.

 

Center for Environmental InformationCEI: Center for Environmental Information We are a grassroots, non-profit organization that works, in collaboration with citizens, organizations, institutions, government and businesses, for environmental protection of upstate New York. 

Get Educated on our Environment

Rochester is host to numerous programs that inform the public on our environment. Public program, environmental groups' programs, schools and universities, there are continual places in our area to get find out about our environment.

  • Education - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation To make the right environmental choices, we all need to understand how our natural environment works, and how resources are affected by the things we do. This is why state law directs DEC to provide environmental education programs that help every citizen to be a steward of the environment. --from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Campaign for Environmental Literacy The Campaign aims to help organize and mobilize the collective tools and assets of the EE community in order to secure federal support and encouragement for vibrant, integrated EE programs across the nation. Simply put, our goal is to significantly increase the amount of federal funding dedicated to the EE community. We are certain that this emphasis will be instrumental in closing the growing environmental literacy gap.
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County - Welcome... Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County was recognized by the Youth Services Quality Council at their December 2007 Annual Breakfast, with the Organization Quality Award of the Year. CCE was given the award for their active involvement with the work of the Youth Services Quality Council and commitment to quality service for youth and families in our community.
  • Mapping Gateway - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Conserving, improving, and protecting New York's natural resources and environment are inherently geographic endeavors. Whether it's studying the habitat of the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly or supporting the cleanup of a brownfield site, every program managed by the Department deals in some way with the space we live in. The DEC relies on geographic data or 'geodata' to enhance decision making and strengthen the public services we offer. We have an extensive collection of maps and geodata sets that the public can access on this page.
  • Discover the Hudson River" Booklet Now Available - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation New Resource For Teachers and Students Studying the Hudson New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the availability of a new environmental resource - Discover the Hudson River, a 16-page booklet designed for teachers and students in the upper elementary grades. (January 25, 2010) Press Releases - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation [more on Environmental Education in our area]

 

ACTRocheterACT Rochester - The mission of ACT Rochester is to stimulate community solutions to our most critical challenges by changing the culture of public discussion and debate.  This will be achieved through focused, independent and objective measurement of key community indicators, through diverse and timely dialogue and by promoting results-oriented actions.

 

Useful Environmental Information

  • What is a State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR)? Why do you need one? Where do you get one? SEQR - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation "Environmental Impact Assessment in New York State In New York State, most projects or activities proposed by a state agency or unit of local government, and all discretionary approvals (permits) from a NYS agency or unit of local government, require an environmental impact assessment as prescribed by 6 NYCRR Part 617 State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR). [Statutory authority: Environmental Conservation Law Sections 3-0301(1)(b), 3-0301(2)(m) and 8-0113]. SEQR requires the sponsoring or approving governmental body to identify and mitigate the significant environmental impacts of the activity it is proposing or permitting. We standardized our environmental assessments by using the Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) and special guidance documents which you may download with instructions using the links on this page. "
  • Google Maps and Earth - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation "Some of DEC's map data can be viewed in Google Maps or Google Earth. To use Google Maps, simply click on any of the Google Maps icons below and the map will open an offsite link in your browser window. To use Google Earth, users must first download the software from Google (see link in right column under Offsite Links). Then, simply click on a Google Earth icon below to open or save the map (as a kmz file). Users new to Google Earth can also refer to DEC's tutorial (also in the right column). " --Learn more: DEC Expands Online Google Earth Offerings - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Department's Hiking, Horseback Riding, Biking, Skiing, Snowmobile and Disabled Access Trails Now Available in Easy-to-Use Format Outdoor enthusiasts have a new tool to help plan the perfect trip to visit any of the 2,500 miles of recreational trails throughout New York, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. DEC's Mapping Gateway has been expanded with information that enables the public to use Google Earth and other mapping tools to find trails and learn more about the state lands that surround them. (July 28, 2010) 

 

 


Rochester, NY is famous for its great bicycling and walking along the Erie Canal. Photo by Frank J. Regan.










(Above scripts from Dynamic Drive)

Local programs on environmental education

Our region offers some unique opportunities to learn about our environment in various programs. 

  • CAYUGA LAKE FLOATING CLASSROOM "In collaboration with Tiohero Tours, we offer affordable programs for schools, community groups and residents of the Cayuga Lake Watershed and surrounding region.  Our experienced instructors can provide a range of safe, fun and engaging experiences. "
  • Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex "The Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) Project is an effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to protect, restore and enhance wildlife habitat. It encompasses approximately 50,000 acres (20,242 hectares) in Seneca, Cayuga and Wayne counties in upstate New York and includes the federal Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, the state Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area, and lands owned by conservation groups, farmers, and other private landowners. Public lands and some private land are managed to provide habitat for wildlife and recreation and education for people. "
  • Hobart and William Smith Colleges :: Finger Lakes Institute "Is dedicated to the promotion of environmental research and education about the Finger Lakes and surrounding environments. In collaboration with regional environmental partners and state and local government offices, the Institute fosters environmentally-sound development practices throughout the region, and disseminates the accumulated knowledge to the general public. "

 

Greenovation Greenovation - Get more Rochester environmental news, get connected to our environmental issues through Facebook, Twitter and more.  "The website, imagecitygreen.com, is what you make of it. We have contributors sparking ideas in a wide variety of local topics. Readers may then expand on these ideas, spark new conversations, which (I hope) will result in action. Someone in the community sees a need for more community gardens? Start a thread in the forum, get your friends involved, make a plan. Make a difference. "