Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

I am a firm believer that education is at the heart of every major topic of concern. Educating the public is an integral part of activism, for without it, we lose support for important issues. I have a passion for teaching others and I have been doing so since the summer before I entered high school. I also have a deep fervor for science- more specifically, conservation biology.
Conservation is not just a hobby for me. It is a lifestyle choice, a vital portion of my being. Half of my family lives in Guatemala, a small country in Central America. The last time I had the chance to visit them, I couldnâ€™t help but notice the trash in the city streets or the smog hanging over our heads. When you zip line over the lush, forested mountains, you canâ€™t see the pollution; all you see is beauty. I knew that if the pollution problem went unchecked, those gorgeous mountains would soon be wearing a cloak of smoke.
I decided to combine the two things I love to do in a community outreach program for my Apprentice Ecologist Project. This is how the NutriFun program came into existence. NutriFun addresses many issues that I believe are in desperate need of attention and remediation, but among those topics is conservation, the matter that has always been closest to my heart. It is an agricultural education and nutrition promotion program geared towards educating young children about the fields of science they never knew were out there, the importance of protecting our natural resources, and how to make healthy lifestyle choices. Before I can explain any agricultural science or health science to my students, I must first cover the basic life science topics. How do our plants grow and what resources do they need? My goal is to have each student walk away with the knowledge that conserving water and preserving the soil is crucial to our livelihood. In each class, I discuss the length of time it takes to make soil, how it is made, why it is so important, and how to prevent weathering and erosion. I also outline the water cycle and make sure the kids know how important it is to conserve water and how they can go about doing so. During the plant life cycle lessons, students learn about the importance of conserving plant systems because of the habitats and sustenance they provide to wild animals. They also learn about composting, food chains, food webs, and energy transfers within an ecosystem.
So far, I have worked with approximately one hundred students in South Florida and I am planning on continuing this work for as long as I reside in South Florida. I would love to take this program with me wherever I go and start similar community outreach services in other areas. Public education is the only way to promote a cause, especially one such as conservation. If the public doesnâ€™t know how to conserve water or recycle or prevent erosion, then weâ€™re stuck in a state of stagnation. By engaging in hands-on activities, the children I teach are more likely and more willing to apply what theyâ€™ve learned to their daily lives. I believe that the benefit to the community will be an increase in the number of environmental stewards the Earth has to speak for it.
Working with these kids has taught me patience, organization, and flexibility. No matter what happens in the future, this experience will always be invaluable to me. I am now more motivated than ever to venture out into the world and make a difference wherever I might end up. I know I have developed as a person because of this project and I know the experiences Iâ€™ve had will continue to push me to be better in every possible way.
My ultimate goal is to make an impact in the word in such a way that motivates others to do the same. Through education, we can all make an impact. Whether itâ€™s teaching your neighbor how to pick out energy-saving light bulbs or starting a recycling program in your community, each person you reach is another voice for our planet.