In a high school biology class a student announced to the class, "We need to solve human problems not Earth problems." Another student in response to the current status of our coral reefs stated, "Let them be. They can take care of themselves. They will go extinct regardless of what we do..."  

 

Our mission is to change that --because our Earth problems ARE human problems.  Humans and our environment are not separate distinct problems, but are interconnected. This belief of interconnectedness can be found in many indigenous cultures and traditional knowledge systems around the world yet is largely forgotten in our technology-based and urbanized modern society.  

 

I see in our youth an increasing disconnection from the natural world.  A Mexican youth who only recently immigrated to the U.S. asked the question, "Are there butterflies in Phoenix Arizona? I haven't seen one since I've been here."  There is within our classrooms too many students who struggle with anxiety, depression, learning challenges, with addictions to Smartphones and social media. An increase in misinformation in understanding current global and environmental issues along with a general loss of empathy. Since the pandemic there have been an increasing number of students who are falling behind or falling into the cracks of our school systems-- especially rural communities and regions with marginalized and indigenous populations.

 

Earth Teach programs like Earth Reporters is about engaging and empowering youth to be educators, communicators, and changemakers while promoting awareness of the current issues impacting our planet and our communities.  Our Earth Teach magazine (print and digital) will serve as a forum for global exchange between cultures as youth share their stories about their local biodiversity. We also believe that youth learn when they teach--- and when we show empathy and care about the life on our planet, we will have empathy and compassion for one another.   

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​I welcome you to join us by following us on BlueSky or subscribe to our newsletter where we will announce new projects, partnerships, and programs.   

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​​Anne Basham, Project Director

Earth Teach Outreach

info@earth-teach.org

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"Culturally we must link learning to the place where one lives---if we become dislocated then we no longer understand." 

​Adapted from Denis Heyck "Schools in the Forest"​​

 

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