The PRIDE Environmental Education Outreach Program reflects PRIDE’s commitment to showing students why and how they should take personal responsibility for the local environment. The program engages students by sending a PRIDE environmental education liaison into classrooms to lead fun, hands on activities that prepare them for state science tests and life-long environmental stewardship.

Goal

The goal of the Environmental Education Outreach Program is to increase the environmental knowledge of our children.  A PRIDE environmental educator provides a PRIDE-related environmental lesson. tied to Kentucky Core Content to students in participating schools.

Objectives

The program targets 3rd through 5th grade students. An emphasis will be made on 4th grade students due to CATS testing at the 4th grade level in science.

Implementation

PRIDE offers the program in its 38-county service area. To participate, each county pays a small program fee and local schools commit to implementing the program in cooperation with PRIDE.

The program fee may be paid by various contributors including, the Fiscal Court, local conservation district, local water or electric company, Board of Education, etc.  It may also be possible to use state litter abatement funds to support this program, however counties must first obtain approval from the State Division of Waste Management.

When a county pays the program fee, each school superintendent in that county is then contacted for approval to start the program. The superintendents are asked to encourage schools to accommodate a schedule that allows the PRIDE education liaison to visit classrooms at least every other month.

Sample Lesson Topics

• Recycling
• Solid waste issues and litter
• Water quality
• Wildlife, plant and animal habitat
• Energy
• Wetlands

Reporting Results

PRIDE supplies participating counties with the number of students visited and the lessons presented. This information is sent quarterly but can be obtained as often as requested.

For More Information

PRIDE is preparing for the 2011-2012 school year. To discuss enrolling your county in the program, please call the PRIDE office at 888.577.4339 or e-mail pride@centertech.com.