Generation Great Lakes: Helping students connect with their Lake through experiential learning

Session: 17. - Great Lakes Outreach and Education

Elizabeth Everhardus, Ministry of the Environment, Land & Water Policy Branch, [email protected]

Abstract

Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment & Climate Change, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, has developed a durable Great Lakes Education Model that brings together school boards and, conservation authorities (CAs) whose boundaries overlap to create learning opportunities that build students awareness of their communities and watersheds, while strengthening their personal connections to their Great Lake as part of their studies.

The Great Lakes Education Model continues to evolve, re-aligning with Ministry of Education priorities, enabling conservation authorities and other partners to strengthen their working relationship with school boards. Students are introduced to Great Lakes issues for the purpose of developing their problem-solving skills, culminating in a special session with students pitching solutions to Great Lakes decision-makers. To date, the model has helped introduce teachers to ways the Great Lakes can be used as context to connect more than 3,000 secondary school students to authentic learning opportunities related to their studies and career sector of interest. 

1. Keyword
education

2. Keyword
environmental education

4. Additional Keyword
partnerships