Welcome to "e" inc's Summer Update!  Although Boston has seen it's fair share of rain the past couple months, it hasn't put a damper on our great summer programming!  We have been working with some new partners as well as long-time collaborators to bring our kids the most unique, hands-on environment science education in town!  We hope you enjoy reading about our recent activities, and you can always visit us at www.e-action.us for more information. 

"e" inc. Receives
"Promising Practices" Award!

    "e" inc. has received a "Promising Practices " award from the Academy for Educational Development (AED) www.aed.org, an international organization dedicated to promoting teaching and learning around the world.

Each year the AED examines youth education programs from all corners of the globe and gives special recognition to the ten best programs that offer the most effective, cutting-edge teaching strategies with the greatest potential for making a positive change in the lives of young people.

The "Promising Practice" award is part of AED's Practices in After School Initiative, which recognizes "breakthrough ideas." An idea is considered "breakthrough" when it is a proven education innovation, method, or approach that results in measurable, replicable, scaleable, and sustainable improvements in learning.  Through "e" inc.'s science and individual and team action curricula, our
students have implemented projects in their schools and neighborhoods to address such issues as global warming, rainforest protection and ocean bio-diversity.

Specific student-initiated projects during the school year included paper recycling/reuse programs in schools; tree plantings; storm drain monitoring to stop impacts of litter on the ocean; electrical energy conservation teams, and letter writing campaigns to address key sustainability issues in the city.

Executive Director Dr. Ricky Stern said, "We are excited to be recognized by such an outstanding organization as AED. The award is a confirmation that our mission and method to engage and train young people to be environmental protectors by teaching them the science behind some critical environmental issues and their own power to bring about needed change, is on track."

The goal of the Afterschool.org and Promising Practices in After School Initiative is to increase the quality and quantity of after-school programs by identifying and promoting organizational and interpersonal practices that support social, emotional, cognitive, physical and cultural outcomes for school-age children and youth.

AED (www.aed.org) is an International nonprofit organization based in Washington D.C. that combines great ideas with real-world perspective to change lives by improving health, education, social and economic development. Focusing on the underserved, AED works with domestic and international partners to implement more than 300 programs serving people in all 50 U.S. states and more than 150 countries.

"e" Summer Programming Up and Running!

Our summer has been quite eventful!  With various projects happening around the city, we at "e" inc. are thrilled to be able to work with so many enthusiastic summer camps.   From gardening to oceanography to forestry to global warming workshops, our educators are keeping 
themselves and their students very busy!  Check out our "Notes from the Field" below to get a first-hand account of "Explorations in the City," our new urban wild field project. 

 
"Exploration in the City," is a unique summer field project specially crafted for city kids who rarely have an opportunity to experience and explore the natural world around them.  Based in the Jamaica Plain/ West Roxbury Allandale Urban Wild, the largest forest in the city, the program brings in kids from summer day camps from all Boston neighborhoods for activities designed to expand their understanding of the forest and natural eco-systems. 

"Exploration in the City" also provides an active learning experience that is fun for children who attend.  As part of the curriculum, children help conserve the forest by creating visitor guides and by adding plantings to a special conservation area within the Allandale Urban Wild.  

"e" inc. is partnered with the Springhouse Elderly Assisted Living Center, which generously donated an indoor classroom space for the children to use for games and arts activities.   During their visit, campers create 'impressions' of the forest using arts media and journals.  On their walks the children are engaged in games, investigations, and activities that help them understand the workings of the ecosystems they are seeing.  Whether they are encountering toads, fish, or frogs in or near the pond or seeing birds and dragonflies in the woodland areas the children begin to gain both knowledge and new experiences during their day in the woods.

We would like to extend a big thank you to Mount Washington Bank, who has generously given to "Explorations in the City" in celebration of the opening of their new branch in Jamaica Plain.  Their commitment to support local programs for children has helped us bring this exciting pilot project to so many summer camps in the Boston area.

For more information on what we've been up to this summer, or to find out how you can have "e" inc. come to your school or community center , contact Executive Director Dr. Ricky Stern at 617-227-1522 or visit our website at www.e-action.us 

Notes from the field

  Education Coordinator Chamberlain Segrest shares a story about one of "e" inc's summer programs:  "Explorations in the City"

  Believe it or not, Boston has 36 tracts of land set aside as "urban wilds". These areas range from half an acre to over 90 acres, and they are left untouched, in the heart of Boston, providing brief glimpses into what this area looked like before the humans moved in.
"e" inc. is currently operating one of their summer programs out of the Allendale Wild in Jamaica Plain. It is the largest of all the wilds and houses 3 ponds, 2 streams and several miles of hiking trails. During the summer, 24 groups of students will visit this wild. They will tramp through the trees, explore under rocks and logs and discover what sort of beings inhabit the thick, muddy bottom of ponds.
I grew up in a small town in Alabama, and most of my childhood was spent exploring the forests just outside my front door. Most of the students participating in this program have not had that opportunity and that is what we are striving for. This past Monday I took a group of 8-12 year olds from the Henningan Community Center into the woods. At first the students were extremely timid, drawing their hoods up over the heads and tucking their hands into their sleeves, screeching at the sight of a tiny gnat. As the hike continued they become more comfortable with their surroundings and soon they were carefully flipping over rocks and logs and shouting in joy at their discoveries: a nest of ants scurrying to hide, a group of slugs hanging out on a slippery log, a small frog dashing into the pond, a large black spider standing guard over her eggs and a woodpecker searching for food in a nearby tree. It has been a wonderful experience for all so far and we are hoping to continue this program for summers to come. 

Congratulations
to the  "Planet Protectors" Class of 2009!

On June 18th over 120 students from "e" inc's afterschool program met at Orchard Gardens Community Center, where they were sworn in as official "Planet Protectors" by Boston Center for Youth and Families Director Daphne Griffin!   Thanks Daphne!

Along with being sworn in as official "Planet Protectors," the students had a blast playing games, eating gigantic cupcakes, and discovering each other's action projects through poster presentations.

Students showing off their stuff to "e" Board Member Annis Gill-Miller

Having fun and striking a pose for the camera!




Students being sworn in as official "Planet Protectors"!

 The 2009 "Children's Planet Protectors" Award went to Boston Whole Foods Markets, who have been so generous to "e" inc. the past year, donating goods to our Film Festival and hosting a "5% Day" in their stores with proceeds directly benefiting our environment science programs like the "Planet Protectors."

Congratulations to our fantastic "Planet Protectors" who are committed to protecting their planet for the future.  And thanks to all who made it out to the celebration, and we'll see you next year!

Thank you so much for your interest in

"e" inc!

Sincerely,

The Board and Staff of "e" inc. 

"e" inc. - The Environmental Learning and Action Center