The Academy for The Academy for Environmental Environmental Stewardship Stewardship

at the at the Agua Hedionda LagoonAgua Hedionda Lagoon

Discovery CenterDiscovery Center

Our Mission StatementOur Mission Statement

““Teach children to love nature.Teach children to love nature.

People take care of what they love.”People take care of what they love.”

--- Elizabeth Terwilliger--- Elizabeth Terwilliger

Who We AreWho We AreAn innovative and cooperative program An innovative and cooperative program between Carlsbad schools and the AHLF between Carlsbad schools and the AHLF to awake in our children the need to to awake in our children the need to appreciate and care for the natural appreciate and care for the natural environmentenvironment

What We DoWhat We Do

Provide hands-on demonstration Provide hands-on demonstration classesclasses

Stress responsible interaction with Stress responsible interaction with natural surroundingsnatural surroundings

Create awareness of the impact of Create awareness of the impact of human activitieshuman activities

Establish a sense of “place” through Establish a sense of “place” through outdoor education in the local outdoor education in the local communitycommunity

How We Do ItHow We Do It

Hands-on learning experiencesHands-on learning experiences Small group formatSmall group format Low student-teacher ratioLow student-teacher ratio

Comprehensive, in-depth curriculum Comprehensive, in-depth curriculum aligned with CA academic standardsaligned with CA academic standards

4 visits and 18 hours of on-site 4 visits and 18 hours of on-site instruction per student at Discovery instruction per student at Discovery Center (3Center (3rdrd grade) grade)

Professional “edutainers” Professional “edutainers”

to enhance and to enhance and

complement complement

instructioninstruction

Innovative teaching tools such as Innovative teaching tools such as

““Jeopardy Game”Jeopardy Game” Participation by localParticipation by local

Native AmericansNative Americans

Lagoon History & ArchaeologyLagoon History & Archaeology

Discovering “artifacts” through Discovering “artifacts” through

a mock archaeological “dig”a mock archaeological “dig”

Carlsbad’s Rancho HistoryCarlsbad’s Rancho History

●● Life and work on the Marron Life and work on the Marron and and Kelly Family ranchosKelly Family ranchos

●● The art The art

of toolingof tooling

●● The history and importance of The history and importance of

“ “branding”branding”

The importance of California native The importance of California native plants for:plants for:

●● ethnobotanyethnobotany

●● critical wildlife habitatcritical wildlife habitat

●● water conservationwater conservation

Learning about Native American rock Learning about Native American rock art and the problem of vandalismart and the problem of vandalism

A Day in the Life of a Luiseno ChildA Day in the Life of a Luiseno Child

Immersion into history and culture of Immersion into history and culture of early Lagoon inhabitantsearly Lagoon inhabitants

Grinding acorns Grinding acorns to make to make “wii-wish”“wii-wish”

Hunting traditionsHunting traditions

Watersheds & WetlandsWatersheds & Wetlands Understanding watersheds and their Understanding watersheds and their role role

and importanceand importance

Learning about Learning about estuariesestuaries and the food and the food webweb

Building a watershed modelBuilding a watershed model

Importance of a healthy watershedImportance of a healthy watershed●● Storm drain run-offStorm drain run-off

●● Impervious surfacesImpervious surfaces

Wetlands are disappearing due to Wetlands are disappearing due to human activitieshuman activities

Many species of wildlife are Many species of wildlife are endangered due to human actionsendangered due to human actions

Studying amphibians and theirStudying amphibians and their

delicate lifecycledelicate lifecycle

Birds & MigrationBirds & Migration What makes a bird a bird?What makes a bird a bird?

● Feather structureFeather structure

● Hollow bonesHollow bones

Nests come in many different shapes

and sizes

A mock migratory journey reveals A mock migratory journey reveals the the manymany hazards faced by hazards faced by migratingmigrating birdsbirds

Our GoalsOur Goals

To promote a love of nature andTo promote a love of nature and

a life-long awareness of the need a life-long awareness of the need

for responsible environmentalfor responsible environmental

stewardshipstewardship Specialized curriculums for 3Specialized curriculums for 3rdrd, 4, 4thth, ,

and 5and 5thth grade grade Emphasis on the highest quality Emphasis on the highest quality

curriculumscurriculums

We Are Proud to Announce…We Are Proud to Announce…

Our 3Our 3rdrd grade curriculum won the grade curriculum won the award for Outstanding Science-Basedaward for Outstanding Science-Based

Education Program for Education Program for

2006-2007 from the Carlsbad2006-2007 from the Carlsbad

Chamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce