When we think of environmental education (EE), we might think of connecting youth to nature, increasing student academic achievement, and developing the next generation of environmental stewards. These are all excellent and proven benefits of EE. But EE that specifically empowers youth and adults towards environmental action in their community can also lead to direct […]
Author: Laura Cisneros
Teen-Adult Conservation Projects Contributing to Town’s Sustainable CT Efforts
Every year, UConn’s Natural Resources Conservation Academy supports ~50 teen-adult partnerships as the teams embark on a common goal: to tackle an environmental issue that is relevant to their community. These intergenerational conservation efforts span an incredible range of topics (e.g., mapping, invasive species, restoration, soils & agriculture, wildlife & fisheries, public outreach, and water […]
Urban Forestry Work of UConn Natural Resources Conservation Academy Student Recognized By City of Hartford
Now in its sixth year, UConn’s Natural Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA) has worked with over 115 teens throughout Connecticut on 10-month individual conservation projects that have directly benefited their local community and environment. NRCA students present their conservation work to over 300 environmental professionals at the Connecticut Conference on Natural Resources, and graduate from the […]
Natural Resources Conservation Academy Inspiring Young Conservation Ambassadors
Wading hip-deep through rivers, wandering off forested trails to gather wild blueberries, and hiking through tall grasslands. At the end of the day, UConn’s Natural Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA) strives to instill a sense of adventure, excitement, appreciation and wonder for local environments, biodiversity and natural resources in Connecticut teens. Despite the intrinsic interest in nature by […]
Fostering Young Scientists through Conservation Projects that Benefit Connecticut Environments
Television, video games, internet, oh my; these days one hardly has to leave their room to find endless entertainment. Today, many have lifestyles that are disconnected from the outdoors and nature. Couple this with the decline of student interest in science, and we are now seeing a shortage of environmentally-conscious and scientifically-informed citizens to tackle […]
Natural Resources Conservation Academy
The 2015-2016 Natural Resources Conservation Academy (nrca.uconn.edu) students presented their amazing community projects Monday at the Connecticut Conference of Natural Resources. The students attend a week-long field experience at UConn in the summer and spend the next 7-9 months completing a conservation project in their community. These projects are often a combination of research (many of […]