The Importance of being an Environmentalist
The following interview is the second in a series about our staff. With respect to global issues such as poverty, sustainable development, environmental issues, this interview hopes to convey the personal commitment our instructors bring to SPL. SPL supports staff by sponsoring specific projects to further those aims.
Q:
Erika, tell us a little about you?
A:
I grew up in Victoria, BC. I completed a double major in geography and environmental studies at the University of Victoria; with courses like sustainable food systems, forestry issues…etc. My academic studies to some extent painted a fairly gloomy picture—there were days when looking at our (human) environmental impact was overwhelming.
Q:
What is the best part of living/working here?
A:
I love working with kids. I enjoy being outside, living in a community where life is a little more simple—like living in cabin without power— where I can pursue my passion with like-minded people.
Q:
What do you see as the main role of Outdoor Education Leaders? How do you achieve that? What are the challenges?
A:
One of the challenges we face as instructors is the brief time we have with students—so connecting with them is a challenge. It is also challenging if students have negative attitudes and are not that interested in being here.
I think our role is to facilitate a positive experience in the outdoors that allows participants to grow as individuals and as a group. A big part of it is just getting youth outside in a wilderness setting something a lot of youths—growing up in an urban environment—are not familiar with.
Q:
As an Outdoor leader, you are involved in Curriculum delivery. What approaches, ideas do you want to develop?
A:
I want to do more work about the impact of our consumption, our ecological footprint. For example at the Otesha project we introduced audiences to the “Banana Chain Game”. This game looked at the production of food and its effects on people in the chain of distribution; moneys received, use of pesticides, fair wages, cost-sharing…
I think it is important to raise global issues and encourage people to think about the impacts they have, and how they can bring about positive change.
Q:
Finally, we get to the Otesha Project. What is it? What are its goals?
A:
I first heard about Otesha from a friend, where I saw a book about Otesha.
I was attracted to the organization I wanted to do an action based activity. I wanted to go on a bike tour!
I was accepted to participate in the Rocky Mountain Tour in December, 2006 and participated in May, 2007. My group consisted of 18 mostly Canadian with one US and one Welsh participant.
We presented to school groups, church groups, and in public places like coffee houses. The Otesha play centered on two characters, showing an hour of their lives titled: “Morning Choices”. And this touched on the choices revolving around water use, clothing, media, food, coffee (fair trade), meat consumption, transportation, and energy use.
We wanted to raise awareness of these issues. By cycling we wanted to demonstrate self-propelled travel. At the end, all get a “Hope” post card, which asks the sender to commit to an action—the underlying message is: every choice can have an impact!
Otesha has a further program—the Triple H program—where high school students are taught the play so that they can perform it in their cities. Otesha’s main goal is to empower youth to take action on environmental and social justice issues.
Q:
What would you say to someone who may consider participating in the Otesha project?
A:
They should participate!!! It was incredible to spend this much time focusing on the issues I am interested in, and with other people who are just as passionate about these issues. This experience helped me feel a lot more positive and hopeful just by meeting so many dedicated people.
Q:
Can we talk about SPL’s core values? What would you like to see SPL focus on? What is it we do well, and what needs greater emphasis?
A:
The core values are really good. I believe we need to keep working on a strong environmental focus, and wherever is possible, we should keep working on reducing the Lodge’s footprint, by being an example of sustainability.
Q:
Do you see the environmental movement as being effective?
A:
Of course, environmental issues are more prominent now in the public domain, but actual positive action has been limited. There are lots of things we can do—at a personal level—and there has to be a shift with respect to what kind of lifestyle we expect, and in how much we consume. I think there also needs to be a lot more political pressure by making environmental concerns a priority in elections.
We also need to stop seeing the environmental movement a separate special interest group. Environmental issues are economic, social and health issues…
Q:
What are your future plans?
A: The plan is to go back to complete a teaching degree, to then teach or work with environmental organizations in an educators role.
Erika, I thank you for your time and thoughts.
Q:
Erika, tell us a little about you?
A:
I grew up in Victoria, BC. I completed a double major in geography and environmental studies at the University of Victoria; with courses like sustainable food systems, forestry issues…etc. My academic studies to some extent painted a fairly gloomy picture—there were days when looking at our (human) environmental impact was overwhelming.
Q:
What is the best part of living/working here?
A:
I love working with kids. I enjoy being outside, living in a community where life is a little more simple—like living in cabin without power— where I can pursue my passion with like-minded people.
Q:
What do you see as the main role of Outdoor Education Leaders? How do you achieve that? What are the challenges?
A:
One of the challenges we face as instructors is the brief time we have with students—so connecting with them is a challenge. It is also challenging if students have negative attitudes and are not that interested in being here.
I think our role is to facilitate a positive experience in the outdoors that allows participants to grow as individuals and as a group. A big part of it is just getting youth outside in a wilderness setting something a lot of youths—growing up in an urban environment—are not familiar with.
Q:
As an Outdoor leader, you are involved in Curriculum delivery. What approaches, ideas do you want to develop?
A:
I want to do more work about the impact of our consumption, our ecological footprint. For example at the Otesha project we introduced audiences to the “Banana Chain Game”. This game looked at the production of food and its effects on people in the chain of distribution; moneys received, use of pesticides, fair wages, cost-sharing…
I think it is important to raise global issues and encourage people to think about the impacts they have, and how they can bring about positive change.
Q:
Finally, we get to the Otesha Project. What is it? What are its goals?
A:
I first heard about Otesha from a friend, where I saw a book about Otesha.
I was attracted to the organization I wanted to do an action based activity. I wanted to go on a bike tour!
I was accepted to participate in the Rocky Mountain Tour in December, 2006 and participated in May, 2007. My group consisted of 18 mostly Canadian with one US and one Welsh participant.
We presented to school groups, church groups, and in public places like coffee houses. The Otesha play centered on two characters, showing an hour of their lives titled: “Morning Choices”. And this touched on the choices revolving around water use, clothing, media, food, coffee (fair trade), meat consumption, transportation, and energy use.
We wanted to raise awareness of these issues. By cycling we wanted to demonstrate self-propelled travel. At the end, all get a “Hope” post card, which asks the sender to commit to an action—the underlying message is: every choice can have an impact!
Otesha has a further program—the Triple H program—where high school students are taught the play so that they can perform it in their cities. Otesha’s main goal is to empower youth to take action on environmental and social justice issues.
Q:
What would you say to someone who may consider participating in the Otesha project?
A:
They should participate!!! It was incredible to spend this much time focusing on the issues I am interested in, and with other people who are just as passionate about these issues. This experience helped me feel a lot more positive and hopeful just by meeting so many dedicated people.
Q:
Can we talk about SPL’s core values? What would you like to see SPL focus on? What is it we do well, and what needs greater emphasis?
A:
The core values are really good. I believe we need to keep working on a strong environmental focus, and wherever is possible, we should keep working on reducing the Lodge’s footprint, by being an example of sustainability.
Q:
Do you see the environmental movement as being effective?
A:
Of course, environmental issues are more prominent now in the public domain, but actual positive action has been limited. There are lots of things we can do—at a personal level—and there has to be a shift with respect to what kind of lifestyle we expect, and in how much we consume. I think there also needs to be a lot more political pressure by making environmental concerns a priority in elections.
We also need to stop seeing the environmental movement a separate special interest group. Environmental issues are economic, social and health issues…
Q:
What are your future plans?
A: The plan is to go back to complete a teaching degree, to then teach or work with environmental organizations in an educators role.
Erika, I thank you for your time and thoughts.
Labels: staff
posted by Strathcona Park Lodge | 9:37 AM
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Love You Guys....you're Awsome!!!!!
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