cloftus
Registered: August 2007
City/Town/Province: Frederick
Posts: 1
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Animals all over the world are disappearing at astonishing rates. Habitat destruction, poaching, and pollution are just a few of the reasons why animals that are living near humans do not have much of a chance at survival. I am extremely passionate about saving endangered species from extinction, and plan to spend my life preserving these animals. As a Conservation Biology student at George Mason University and a volunteer at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., I have the opportunity to educate the public about the plight of endangered species in the wild. However, since public education is such a critical step in saving endangered species, I sought out further opportunities for public education.
This summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to create and teach a class for children ages 8-11 at Frederick Community College called “Endangered Means There’s Still Time.” Each day, we focused on a continent and many of the endangered species that live there. I taught the students about the animals and the habitats that they live in through lectures, video clips, interactive online activities, crafts, music, and games. After learning about the endangered animals and their environment, we discussed what they could do to help save endangered species. Each day concluded with a “conservation chat,” exploring such topics as poaching, the wild animal trade, habitat destruction, and marine pollution.
Before I taught this class I was very excited and hopeful that I would be able to influence these students in a way that would make them care about wildlife and the environment. After teaching this class, I was absolutely astounded at the impact that class had on these children. During the class the students made conservation T-shirts and visors that they were very excited about. They told me that they would wear them to school and use them to spread the conservation message. In addition, one of the parents told me that their child had made conservation brochures at home. They had planned to go get them copied after class that day and pass them around the neighborhood! I was even more overwhelmed and excited when two of the children and their parents drove one hour to visit me at the National Zoo. Their enthusiasm was endless as they asked dozens of questions about the giant pandas and told me that they wanted to be zookeepers and veterinarians.
Teaching this class was more rewarding than I had ever expected. It gave me more experience in public education, which I know will very beneficial as I continue to spread the conservation message. In the future, I hope to be able to touch more people so that they too will be able to value and respect animals and the environment in the way that I do.
By Courtney
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