Cal U Eco – Cal U Eco – Red,Red, BlackBlack & Green & GreenA FPDC Learning CommunityA FPDC Learning Community

Exploring human connections to the outdoors!Exploring human connections to the outdoors!Ohiopyle State Park PA Grand Canyon Cooks Forest State Park

What is Cal U Eco about? Understanding human relationships with the

natural world Investigating how these relationships have

changed through time Examining why these relationships are

changing Exploring what we can do to repair &

strengthen these connections

Cal U Eco – www.CaluEco.org Cal U Students, Faculty & staff Environmental education, nature-based

recreation & campus sustainability planning. Cal U not just a place where learning

happens… but Cal U can be living sustainability laboratory.

Cal U Eco – www.CaluEco.org Examines the ways the university promotes

and contributes to physical & emotional health of its members through fitness, nutrition & outdoor recreation

Examines how the collective actions of the university community impact the health of the natural places where we live & learn.

Cal U Eco – www.CaluEco.org Actively encourages a variety of

perspectives through on-going university community dialogue & mutual support network

Strive to encourage people to become more physically active in the out-of-doors

Foster development of ethical interaction with the environment through education & stewardship.

Cal U Eco is: John Confer, Parks & Recreation Mgmt. Kyle Fredrick, Earth Sciences Bill Hug, Elementary/Early Child Education Susan Jasko, Communication Studies Contributors

Carol Bocitti, Tom Mueller , Paula Caffrey, Maggy Aston, Sarah Meiss, Mark Tebbitt, Summer Arrigo-Nelson, Bob Whyte, Greg Harrison, David Argent, Jim Carter, Dana Ferry, Greg Gould, Nancy Zisk, Sue Mohney, Pamela Twiss

Cal U student organizations Geology club, Parks & Rec society, Eco Action club, Wildlife

society, Biology club, Cal U PRSSA

YOU!

Why do we need Cal U Eco? Recent literature describes Americans’

changing behaviors, resulting in decreasing:

1. Health & fitness levels

2. Understanding of energy & food systems

3. Knowledge of nature & natural systems

4. Participation in nature-based experiences & outdoor activities

5. Visitation to parks & natural areas

Why do we need Cal U Eco? Fromm (1964), Wilson (1984) & Kellert (1993)

describe “Biophilia” as the attractions, positive feelings & connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of nature

Sobel (1995) coined the term “Ecophobia” as an irrational, groundless & sometimes hysterical dislike or fear of ecological problems & all or parts of the natural world If we want people to flourish we need to give them time to

connect with nature and love the Earth before we ask them to save it

We can cure the malaise of ecophobia with ecophilia - supporting people's biological tendency to bond with the natural world

“Go out and play” has become “don’t you dare go outside”

Nature of childhood has changed in a single generation: 80% of Americans live in urban areas 2/10 American children are clinically

obese Kids spend up to 44 hours per week

plugged in Kids are told the outdoors are unsafe &

it’s too late to save the planet

Why do we need Cal U Eco?

“Sensationalist media coverage and paranoid parents have literally ‘scared children straight out of the woods and field’ while promoting a litigious culture of fear that favors ‘safe’ regimented sports over imaginative play.” --

Richard Louv

2010 Kids Hooked on Media (even more!) A recent study from the Kaiser Family Foundation creates the latest

picture of youth & their involvement with all types of media Some of the insights shared from this study include:

Total media consumption of young consumers ages 8 to 18 from mobile, TV, games, Internet, etc -- comes to a big 7 hrs 38 min/day, up from 6 hrs 21 min/day in 2004

Multitasking across various media platforms just increases the numbers reaching 10 hrs 45 min/day in 2009 vs. 8 hrs 33 min just 5 yrs ago - That means kids have added over 2 hrs!

These figures don not include time spent “texting” the study found 30 of these young people sent over 100 text messages/day!!

TV is paying a big price; for the first time over the course of its ongoing study, the amount of time spent watching regularly scheduled TV -- live & time shifted -- declined by 25 min/day over those 5 yrs.

This doesn’t leave much time for active play, recreation & leisure in the out-of-doors!

Important Note: The Kaiser study also notes that only 3 in 10 young people say they have rules about how much time they can spend watching TV, playing video games & using the computer (Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, January 2010)

Videophilia is a noun coined by Pergams & Zaradic describing the current human tendency to focus on sedentary activities involving electronic media

Why do we need a Cal U Eco?

One family’s experience…

In 1919 range = 6 milesIn 1950 range = 1 mileIn 1979 range = .5 mileIn 2007 range = 300 yards

From: Dr. Robert Bird in The Daily Mail, June 15, 2007

Why do we need Cal U Eco? Videophilia trumps parks! Fewer people (esp. children) are venturing

to parks To the contrary, on a typical day

> 75% watch TV, videos, or DVDs

As the time people spent on electronic media  increased, park visits decreased

Why do we need Cal U Eco? Studies shows that people in the US & other

developed nations are spending far less time in nature than ever before

Declines in per capita nature participation typically began 1981-1991 Losing about 1% per year & have lost 18%-25%

Less contact with nature translates to decreased appreciation of the environment in future generations

Where Will Future Stewards of Nature Come From?*

[What is the] extinction of a condor to a child who has never seen a wren?

--Naturalist Robert Michael Pyle

* Quotes by Richard Louv best-selling author of Last Child in the Woods Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

Illustration by Stephen Webster

Why do we need Cal U Eco?• Universities throughout the country, big & small, are

investing in “green” initiatives & campus sustainability projects• AASHE - Association for the Advancement of

Sustainability in Higher Education• “…the United States could be leading the way to creating a

sustainable world. Furthermore, U.S. universities, as centers of innovation and learning, could be in the forefront, leading the charge.” - C. Uhl, Sustainability on Campus, 2004

• California University has worked hard to reduce our energy consumption through the Master Plan• Can we do more? • What about the campus natural spaces?

Highlights Cal U Eco Year 1

Academic Excellence Days 2008 Presentation of learning community plans & goals

Brown Bag Luncheons Students & faculty invited to stimulate discussion of human connections to the outdoors &

the natural world

Healthy People Healthy Communities, Naturally One-day conference (Spring 2009 Early Feburary)

Web Site (CaluEco.org), Logos, Name (Cal U Eco) Learning community progress, resources & announcements

Cal U Campus Sustainability Celebrate successes, promote new initiatives & increase awareness

Initiate Student/Faculty “Outings” organization Promote/offer outdoor recreation & leisure activities to campus community

Academic Excellence Days 2009 Presentation of learning community outcomes at 2009

Cal U Eco - Fall 2008 Programs/Events Welcome to Cal U Campus Outdoors

Picnic & Lawn Games Safe Boating on the Mon @ Cal U Ohiopyle Triathalon - Boat, Bike & Run @ Ohiopyle

State Park Lower Yough Whitewater Rafting Trip Kan-Jam Games Tournament Student, Faculty & Staff Brown Bag Lunch

Collaborations for Campus Sustainability Yough River Trail Biking @ Cedar Creek Park Adventure Activities Film Festival Full Moon Hike & Owl Prowl @ Mingo Creek Park

Safe Boating on the Mon River TripSafe Boating on the Mon River Trip

Lower Yough River Raft TripLower Yough River Raft Trip

Cal U Eco Spring 2009 Program/Events Ohiopyle Winterfest @ Ohiopyle State Park Kayaking Padding Techniques & Roll

Sessions @ Cal U Hamer Pool Cal U Eco Conference

Healthy People, Healthy Communities - NATURALLY!

Cal U Eco Action, new student club affiliated with the Cal U Eco Learning Community

Stony Acres Challenge Course Trip 2009 Academic Excellence Days Presentation

Stony Acres Challenge Course

Campus Sustainability Initiative Service-learning projects associated with

campus clean-up & sustainability efforts Sustainable agriculture & local foods Rain gardens on campus

Integrate Cal U sustainability examples in courses across campus

April 22, 2010 Cal U Earth Day!

Cal U Eco Goals Year 2

Education/Service Learning Campus Building Energy Consumption

Monthly updates of building energy costs 4H GPS workshop

Dr. Tom Mueller (Earth Sciences) with CalU Eco

Events Hike to Mt. Davis (Early Fall, 2009)

Sponsored with Geology Club and Parks & Rec Club

Research Evaluating impacts of Course-based field

experiences on student learning and attitudes

Cal U Eco Year 2 Programs & Events

Cal U Eco Fall 2009 Program/Events Welcome Back Cal U Eco Event

Safe Boating on the Mon & River Cleanup Lower Yough Whitewater Rafting Trip Road Trip to GearFest sponsored by Five Rivers

MetroParks in Dayton, OH REEL ROCK Climbing Film Festival & Cal U

Climbing Wall Grand Opening Event Laurel Mountains Hike to Mt. Davis in Forbes State

Forest Brown Bag Lunch Discussion

Clean energy, green jobs & energy efficiency/conservation to save money & create jobs

Cal U Eco Spring 2010 Program/Events Ohiopyle Winterfest @ Ohiopyle State

Park Cedar Creek Park BioBlast 2010 Academic Excellence Days

Presentation Pike Run Youth Fishing Festival 2010 Earth Day Birth Day Celebration!

Happy Birthday Earth Day! Earth Day Events 2010!

Date: Thursday, April 22, 2010 Details: Earth Day Birthday Campus-wide

Celebration 5 days of special events, something for everyone! Click HERE for the Full Earth Day Birthday

Events Schedule Movies, campout, presentations, posters - fun &

educational!

"It's easy being GREEN!"- Kermit the Frog

Earth Day Schedule of Events Wednesday April 21, 2010

9-11:00 presentation “What does a tree do for me?” (365, 4th graders at local school) – Dr. Bocetti, Cal U Wildlife Society - posters, brochures and seedlings for distribution

1-3PM Stream Clean up & litter pick up event at Rotary Park & Pike Run – meet at Eberly Lobby or at Rotary Park - Cal U Parks & Recreation Society

4-4:30PM Come & watch "2010 ChillOut: Campus Solutions to Global Warming" webcast, Eberly Hall, Room 255Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming is America's leading competition & awards program recognizing college & university innovation to solve global warming

Earth Day Schedule of Events Thursday April 22, 2010 - 40th Anniversary of Earth Day!

9:30-1:30 - Fayette County Headstart Preschoolers (120 Kids) - Earth Day Celebration for Young Children: Early Explorations - Drs. Hug & Wright w/ ECE 405 class on the Cal U Quad - Sponsored by PNC Grow Up Great with Science Project

12:00 Composting Demonstration outside Frich Hall – Mrs. Tebbitt 12:00 Sustainable Smoothies booth outside Frich Hall – Biology Club 1:00 Organic Farming Lecture in FRI 202 – Dr. Kolcon from West

Virginia University 2:00 Composting Demonstration outside Frich Hall – Mrs. and Dr.

Tebbitt 2:00 Wormbox Composting Demonstration outside Frich Hall – Dr.

Meiss 2:00 Sustainable Smoothies booth outside Frich Hall – Biology Club 2:15 Earth Day 40th Birthday Cake! outside of Vulcan Theatre - Happy

bEarthday! Poster 2:30 Screening of “No Impact Man” in Vulcan Theatre sponsored by

Cal U Eco Learning Community (No Impact Man Event Poster)made possible by Cal U SAI, No Impact Project, Slow Food USA & 1Sky - A drawing for Door Prizes

Earth Day Schedule of Events Thursday April 22, 2010 - 40th Anniversary of Earth Day!

4:30 Delivery of local, healthy, sustainable & organic food for campus campout meal – AVI Fresh

4:30 Registration for Campus Campout for Sustainability & dinner between Frich Hall, Watkins & Eberly- must register to participate

5:00 Leave No Trace Demonstrations – Mr. John Lucadamo from Venture Outdoors & LNT Trainer-Participants in campus campout must attend LNT workshop - we want to be No Impact Women/Men & Leave-No-Trace!

6:00 Set up camp @ Campus Campout for Sustainability 6:00 Earth Day Graffiti Murals - join Hip Hop Event to produce

Earth Day Graffiti Murals – Jozart Studios, Wood & 2nd St, California, PA

8:00 return to Campus Campout for Sustainability between Frich Hall, Watkins & Eberly

8:00 Lawn Games, New Games & Competitions 8:00 Enjoy acoustic blues band until 10:00

Earth Day Schedule of Events Thursday April 22, 2010 - 40th Anniversary of Earth Day!

All Day Events Displays (throughout Frich Lobby, 1st floor and outside along sidewalk)

Get your native seedling (from PA Game Commission) or native seeds (from iConservePA)See posters and brochures describing importance of trees – Cal U Wildlife Society

Buy Fresh Buy Local non-profit organization display promoting the value of local foods Conservation Booth – learn about the causes for the decline in biodiversity – The Wildlife

SocietyBiodiversity Posters display (2010 is also the International Year of Biodiversity!)For the Kids! Get your FREE Earth Day biodiversity workbooks – Produced by Dr. Confer's Human Ecology class

Art Exhibition Murals and Biological Drawings - Professor Aston Get your re-usable water bottle! See posters illustrating consequences of plastic waste – Cal

U Wildlife Society Get your reusable grocery bags! See posters about North Pacific and Atlantic Plastic &

Garbage Gyres - Dr. Frederick, Cal U Geology Club, Cal U Eco Action Club, Dr. Majcen & his Oceanography class

Learn about RecycleMania! Consider petition to change campus recycling practices!!Recycling bin painting project similar to fire hydrant project (tentative)- Dr. Frederick, Dr. Meiss, Cal U Biology Club, Cal U Wildlife Society, Cal U Geology Club

Learn about outdoor programming at other PASSHE schools & beyondPossible petition to start Outdoor Recreation Program through SAI & Cal U Department of Recreation Services – Parks & Rec Society, Wildlife Society & the Recreation Site Design class

Future Research & Scholarly Projects Environmental Education Curriculum Park visitation, outdoor experiences and emotional, physical,

environmental response SAI Sponsored Active Outing Club

Student-centered umbrella organization for individual & collaborative multi-club events and trips

Examples: Rafting, rock-climbing, hiking Partner with Other Groups, Learning Communities &

Clubs Campus Sustainability Initiatives (cont.)

Energy consumption awareness & reduction Recycling, Participate in 2011 ChillOut Service-learning projects associated with campus clean-up &

sustainability efforts.

Cal U Eco Goals Beyond Year 2…

Discussion:Discussion:Where do we go from here?Where do we go from here?What are your ideas for Cal What are your ideas for Cal U Eco in 2010-2011?U Eco in 2010-2011?

How would you like to How would you like to contribute?contribute?

Thank You!Thank You!

Get More Active in Professional Organizations

AASHE - Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

Campus Ecology (NWF) AORE – Association of Outdoor Recreation &

Education (aore.org) AEE – Association of Experiential Education (aee.org) AEOE - Association for Environmental & Outdoor

Education (aeoe.org) NSEE - National Society for Experiential Education

(nsee.org) NAGT – National Association of Geoscience Teachers

(www.nagt.org)

Does education or interaction increase appreciation?

• Education & participation with the natural world may increase personal responsibility for protecting it (stewardship)

• Historically, environmental education

initiatives resonated with people• Iron Eyes Cody, Keep America

Beautiful (1971)

• Woodsy the Owl – “Give a Hoot,

Don’t Pollute!” (1973)

• Smokey the Bear – “Only YOU

can prevent forest fires” (1944)

Discussion Questions

1. How much time do you spend outdoors in nature? Would you like to spend more or less? Why?

2. How would you describe the quality of your relationship with the outdoors/nature?

Do you think it has changed? How?

3. In your view, what should Cal U faculty, staff and students do to address the our relationship with the outdoors/nature?

4. How does the media portray the outdoors and nature? Do electronic communication devices affect how young people view nature

and the outdoors? How?

5. Do you feel Cal U campus is a Green Campus? Why/Why not? Do you think we can do better and make the campus more sustainable? How?

Please answer on the index cards

Active Outing Club – Eco Action Student-centered organization for individual and collaborative

events & trips Examples: Rafting, rock-climbing, caving, hiking

Future Research & Scholarly Projects Environmental Education Curriculum Impact of field trips & field courses on student knowledge a &

attitudes towards sustainability & the environment Park visitation, outdoor experiences & emotional, physical,

environmental response

Learning Community Goals: Proposed Year 2

Thank You for coming & participating!

Please sign up for more information & to become an active Please sign up for more information & to become an active member of this Learning Community!member of this Learning Community!