Awesome Action
|
In 2003, CPAWS launched the Action Challenge program, designed to inspire students just like you to take positive action to help the environment. We are so impressed with the results, we wanted to share them with you. We’re hoping that you’ll be inspired by these awesome actions and want to take the Action Challenge, too! |
|
||||||
|
This past school year (2008/2009), we were again thrilled with all the schools, students and teachers that stepped up and became environmental stewards. Most classes engaged in an environmental action project. Details include:
From the installation of solar panels on the roof of a school gymnasium, to wildlife cameras on school property, to a new litter-less lunch legacy and rmaped-up recylcing programs, CPAWS schools have mada a difference in their local communities. In addition to celebrating these actions online, each year we select two outstanding schools for their exceptional environmental projects to receive our Awesome Action Awards. The 2008/9 winners were Deer Run School and Banded Peak School who both received a beautifully framed, award-winning nature photograph. Please click here for the 2008/2009 Awesome Action Award Winners. Here are the awesome actions of 2007-2008! |
|||||||
2007/08 Elementary Action (Grade 3-6)
Calgary Academy |
Mrs. Gibson, Ms Smith and Ms. Jankowski’s grade 3 and 4 classes at Calgary Academy are appropriately calling themselves the CareBears. As part of the CPAWS endangered species program, they learned about Grizzly Bears and used this as a launching point to learn about bears around the world. They have raised money to adopt a polar bear though the World Wildlife Fund’s Adopt-A-Polar Bear program, and are increasing their knowledge of global warming. In addition, the students are doing research projects on different animals. Way to go, CareBears! 
|
Penbrooke Meadows School |
All year, Ms. Rauser’s Grade 3/4 class at Penbrooke Meadows has been tackling the question “Can one person really make a difference?” These keen kids have learned that they can! In addition to creating a fantastic action plan and doing some great research posters on endangered species, these students also rallied the school administration into becoming greener. They have produced professionally printed endangered species greeting cards that they are selling to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund … AND the class is working on making an animated movie that will be shown to the entire school to raise awareness about endangered species and other environmental issues. Fantastic job guys! Penbrooke Meadows was the recipient of our CPAWS Action Challenge Award this year. Click here to read about our action awards. 
|
Brentwood Elementary |
The Grade 4’s at Brentwood Elementary raised money for further environmental education initiatives by selling and distributing recycling bins. They have also become more aware of the waste that is produced everyday from their lunches, and have organized a series of litter-free lunch days. |
St. Andrew School |
Ms. Henderson’s grade 3 students really got into learning about animals and the environment. As part of their CPAWS visit, they learned about how eco-passages help large mammals in Banff National Park cross roads. They then read an article as a class about how the eco-passages or salamander tunnels in Waterton National Park are helping amphibians to cross roads, and got excited about all the cool things that can be done to help wildlife. They have also all studied human impacts on animals, and have done research projects on endangered species. In addition, these students also learned about water pollution issues and made a list of “Pollution Solutions.” Parents and others were informed about “Pollution Solutions.” though awareness posters and information sharing. Some of the tips included: not washing your car on the street, not pouring oil or other substances down storm sewers, and keeping grass clippings on your lawn. They also watched the movie Arctic Tale, discussed the main ideas and responded in written form. Wow St. Andrews – great work! |
Dr. E.W. Coffin School |
After their CPAWS classroom program on endangered species, Ms. Lysak’s and Mr. Ogilvie’s grade 5 classes at E. W. Coffin felt motivated to make a difference. The students raised over $100 to donate toward CPAWS and their work in nature conservation by selling baked treats at parent-teacher interview night. Thank you, E.W. Coffin! |
Spitzee Elementary |
After learning about endangered species and how they can reduce their impact on the planet, Ms. Peterson’s and Ms. Schafer’s grade 3 classes started an ongoing waste reduction initiative – Trashless Tuesdays! Over the course of the year the students graphed their litter-less lunch efforts in order to gain a better understanding of their impact over time. We know that these students are making a difference in cleaning up our world – thank you. 
|
Douglas Harkness Community School |
Ms. Teske, Ms. Lydette, and Ms. Stadingers / Filipchuk’s grade 3/4’s are an extremely motivated and energetic bunch. All year they have been studying their energy footprint – and these kids totally understand their connection to the earth and how to reduce their impact. They have started up a school vermicomposting program as well as a recycling initiative. The kids have also learned about human-wildlife interactions and have taken a Bear Guardian pledge. They now all proudly wear their Bear Guardian badges, ready to teach others everything they’ve learned. |
Prince of Wales School |
Ms. Fortier’s, Ms. Bruckners and Ms. Hammond’s grade 3/4’s have been studying what it means to go green all year. They have learned all about endangered animals and reducing their ecological footprint. The students have all done projects on different Canadian endangered animals and are fundraising to donate towards the Calgary Zoo’s red panda conservation program. They are also using the morning announcements to broadcast information and raise awareness about various species at risk. 
|
Ecole Sam Livingston |
The grade 3/4 students at Sam Livingston have learned what it means to be environmental advocates and speak up for their cause. The students researched different species/conservation initiatives and made presentations to convince their classmates that their cause was important and should be supported. All the students produced amazing projects and made fantastic presentations and campaign pitches. In the end, the Northern Leopard Frog won the competition, and is now the campaign focus for all the grade 3-4’s. Check out the winning information booklet below, as well as some of the other fantastic projects. |
West Dalhousie Elementary |
This is one motivated and eco-friendly school. West Dalhousie’s green team has created “natures place” a fantastic schoolyard naturalization project, and the grade 3/4’s have become burrowing owl experts and advocates! These students started by creating a great action plan, then followed through with their ideas. Posters and PowerPoint presentations were created to raise awareness of the burrowing owl and the reasons for the species decline. Please check out a few of the PowerPoint presentations below. These grade 3/4#146;s also realize the power and scope of the Internet in spreading positive messages and ask that you email their presentations (or the link to this page - http://www.cpaws-southernalberta.org/education/awesome_action.php) to everyone you know … PowerPoint presentations Note: You will need Microsoft PowerPoint or a PowerPoint/PPT viewer to view the above files. |
Holy Name School |
Mr. Allarie’s grade 5 students are water wise. They took the time to research and present multiple solutions for various watershed issues. They are especially experts with regards to wetlands and the important role that wetlands play in holding and filtering our water. |
St Elizabeth Seton |
Ms. Horne's grade 3 class at St Elizabeth Seton have all done individual research projects on animals – covering their animals’ life cycles, possible threats, and environmental protection. They also hosted a litter-free lunch on Earth Day and had a bake sale to fundraise for the Calgary Pet Rescue program. Another fun initiative of the class was to raise butterflies and release them. Way to go guys! 
|
Hamptons School |
After their CPAWS endangered species visit, a few grade 3/4 students were inspired and wanted to do something to make a difference. They created some beautiful posters to raise awareness about Alberta’s declining plants and animals. 
|
University Elementary |
Mr. Blais and Ms Moriarty’s classes at University Elementary have dived deep into local and global environmental issues. These students researched solutions to various watershed issues, conducted a tap and toilet survey of the school and had the custodial staff put in work orders to get the dripping faucets and toilets fixed. In addition, these students have also taken on an entrepreneurial venture and are selling bottled water with their own logos to raise money to provide well water for 300 villagers in India. 
|
Guy Weadick Elementary School |
Ms. Groves and Ms. Elford’s Grade 4 students really give a hoot. They used their novel study – Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat –and their CPAWS endangered species program to inspire them to make owl awareness posters and raise funds to put toward wildlife conservation. Thank you, Guy Weadick! |
Mitford Middle School |
These keen grade 5’s all researched and presented solutions for local water issues. The future of the Bow River Watershed is in good hands. |
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha School |
During environment week (June 2-6th), Blessed Kateri School held a recycling challenge in which all the classes were challenged to rethink their use of paper. The Blessed Kateri Environment group asked all the students to reduce the amount of paper and paper products going into the recycling boxes and waste cans. The students responded well and the amount of paper was significantly reduced during the week. It is the environment group’s hope that the school will continue to think about the responsible use of paper and paper products and reduce their ecological footprint. In addition, Jordan Miller-Laroche, Cassie Klune and Samantha Stamler from Robert Pierces grade 5-6 classes held a T-shirt raffle to fundraise money for endangered species. They purchased 12 t-shirts and drew endangered species artwork on them. Raffle tickets were sold for $.50 and over $300 was raised. Blessed Kateri has decided to donate the money to the Swift Fox Recovery Centre on behalf of CPAWS. A great big CPAWS thank you to these three motivated girls for overseeing this terrific project! 
|
Back to top
Return to Main menu
2007/08 Secondary Action (Grade 7-12)
St. Anthony School |
|
Rundle Academy |
Mr. Palmer’s outdoor and environmental education class made posters to bring awareness to the issues surrounding grizzly bears in Alberta. The posters drew attention to the following issues: the increasing human pressure on bear habitat and migration corridors, giving wildlife the space they deserved, the importance of speed limits, and responsible backcountry travel when in bear habitat. Way to be Bear Aware, Rundle! |
Terry Fox Junior High |
Ms. Bates, Ms. Matheson and Mr. Kinjo’s grade 9’s have gotten serious about stewardship. Through their CPAWS visits and by reading Walking the Big Wild by Karsten Heuer, they have learned all about Wildlife Corridors, the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and the importance of landscape-scale conservation for grizzly bears and other wildlife species. The grade 9’s then expressed their support for protecting Canada's wilderness by signing and mailing CPAWS caribou postcards to the government. You can learn more about this campaign and protecting caribou habitat at www.caribouandyou.ca. They have also been spreading the message to the rest of the school with announcements over the schools PA system and through projects, posters and interactive ecosystem games. These students have also been fundraising to support a partner school in Sudan. Wow, way to go Terry Fox! 
|
Calgary Academy |
The grade 7’s at Calgary Academy have once again amazed us with their fundraising abilities. These students took the CPAWS Action Challenge and raised $924.00 through selling energy efficient light bulbs and hosting a bake sale. They have decided to donate the money to the Red Cross disaster relief. This is especially pertinent in light of global climate change and an associated increase in extreme weather events. Way to go, Calgary Academy! |
Sir John A Macdonald |
Ms. Gladden-Pederson’s Outdoor Ed classes did projects for earth day on various conservation topics. They’ve raised their awareness of wild animals, environmental issues and what they can do to help. |
Dr. Gordon Higgins School |
Corrina Fetter’s outdoor education classes researched different environmental and conservation based organizations (like CPAWS) and created PowerPoint presentations to teach the rest of the class about their organizations. What a great way to get informed! |
A.E. Cross Junior High |
|
Dr. Gordon Higgins School |
Corrina Fetter’s outdoor education classes researched different environmental and conservation based organizations (like CPAWS) and created PowerPoint presentations to teach the rest of the class about their organizations. What a great way to get informed! |
William Roper Hull School |
|
Foundations for the Future Charter Academy |
|
Lindsay Thurber High School |
Ms. Rudolph’s science 9 honours class at Lindsay Thurber High School in Red Deer held a back sale to raise Money for Wilderness protection. $157.00 was raised and donated to CPAWS. Thank you so much! |
After learning about Alberta’s grizzly bears, Michelle Deen’s class got political and wrote letters to the government in order to express their support for bear conservation in Alberta!
These students all became bear aware. They created a bear awareness checklist and took a bear guardian pledge.
Jim Thorne and his students at William Roper Hull School are the proud and well-deserved recipients of CPAWS’ 2008 Gareth Thomson Action Challenge Award. Jim and his class grow plants every year to brighten up their classroom and improve air quality, and they also grow tomatoes for the NASA Tomatosphere Space Project. They have made their schoolyard more nature friendly by building and installing birdfeeders and birdhouses. This group has also started up a school vermicomposting program and a stellar recycling initiative. Not only do they recycle paper and bottles but also scrap-metal and motor oil in the tech classes. Through their recycling program, they have fundraised and put the money towards the Mustard Seed, the SPCA and towards adopting a child in Africa. The school’s tech class also helped with prop development for CPAWS’ new water education program. A giant congratulations and thank you to William Roper Hull for all their hard work and initiative!
Mr. Lowther's Grade 11 Social Studies Class at Foundations for the Future Charter Academy learned about current Canadian environmental events and took positive political action. After studying the issues around the Nahanni National Park Campaign, they were motivated to write letters to Prime Minister Steven Harper encouraging him to proceed with the expansion of Nahanni to include the entire watershed. They received a letter of response and a signed picture of Steven Harper for their efforts! Back to top
Return to Main menu
Home | Campaigns | News | Education | Events | Take Action | Links | Support | Search
Questions about CPAWS Southern Alberta? E-mail info@cpawscalgary.org
Comments on this Web site? E-mail webmaster@cpawscalgary.org