How Does Earth Stewards In New Jersey Work?

Earth Stewards helps the Service fulfill its mission: "working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people." Earth Stewards brings our mission to the classroom by encouraging fish and wildlife conservation. The first year focuses on planning and organization, relying on the Service for support. Goals include integrating conservation education topics into the school's curriculum, training faculty on environmental education curriculum and education methods, and providing a wildlife experience off school grounds. The program grows to include integrated, research-based projects with teachers assuming the lead role, and a science career orientation component. Service support continues as long as the program remains active. Our goal in New Jersey is to provide the framework to establish the program and then introduce other schools to Earth Stewards.

Providing ongoing consultation and educational sponsorship are among the Service's commitments to Earth Stewards. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation provides financial support in the form of challenge grants. Challenge grants require matching funds from other sources. Partnerships are the cornerstone of a successful Earth Stewards program. Financial and non-financial partners are essential. Partners often include local school groups such as parent-teacher associations, local businesses, parents, teachers, philanthropic foundations, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and corporations.

Smithville Elementary School: A Case Study--

In 1994, the New Jersey Field Office (NJFO) was selected as one of seven pilot sites nationwide to implement the Earth Stewards program. Once announced as a pilot site, the Service and Smithville Elementary School, located in Galloway Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey began building the framework to create a long-term program. A challenge grant through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation required matching funds from the community; numerous contributors met the challenge. With a secure commitment from our partners, the Service and Smithville Elementary began implementing the program.

The theme of Smithville Elementary's first year was endangered species. Themes for following years concentrate on wetlands. Each grade focuses on a different aspect of the program. Students built and maintain a nature trail, run a composting program, created butterfly attracting gardens, planted trees, and enhanced a drainage pond to attract wildlife and provide an outdoor laboratory. Each year Smithville Elementary hosts a wildlife conservation week with Service sponsorship and participation. Service staff remain available to answer questions and address other needs, and work closely with the students to enhance their education, provide hands-on nature walks, and offer information about careers with conservation agencies like the Service.

Educational programs cannot work without teacher support, and Smithville Elementary teachers are dedicated to achieving success. One example of this dedication is Ms. Jan Manganiello, a fifth grade teacher, who helped foster a successful Earth Stewards program. In 1997, the National Science Foundation selected her for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Elementary Science. More than 30 teachers and two administrators join Ms. Manganiello in celebrating the school's Earth Stewards achievements.

Partners

Atlantic County Parks Atlantic County Utilities Authority

Bally's Park Place Casino Hotel and The Grand

Barnegat Bay Decoy and Baymen's Museum

Cape-Atlantic Soil Conservation District Galloway Township Public Schools

Galloway Township Recycling Office

Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

Alex Harrison - Boy Scout

National Conservation Training Center

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Ocean County Parks

Peter Lumber Company

Schairer Bros.

Smithville Parent-Teacher Association

South Jersey Chapter - National Audubon Society

Specialty Garden DesignPeter Staub - Richard Stockton College

TropWorld Casino

Pinelands Regional High School:

The Next Step -- Once the program successfully developed at Smithville Elementary, the NJFO considered other schools for Earth Stewards participation. In 1997, the NJFO selected Pinelands Regional High School in Tuckerton, Ocean County, New Jersey as the next Earth Stewards site, the first high school to implement this national program.

At Pinelands Regional High School, students study watershed and wetland issues. Water quality is among the topics examined. A bog system on school property provides an excellent outdoor laboratory. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation challenge grants and community support provided environmental monitoring equipment. Detailed aerial photographs of the local area are among the donations received, allowing students to see the connection between development and watersheds. Through their enthusiasm and dedication, teachers and students ensure the growth of their Earth Stewards program. The students participate in field trips, canoe trips, habitat restoration, in class lessons and demonstrations, and extensive environmental monitoring. As the second year concludes at Pinelands Regional High School, their flourishing efforts promise another successful program.

Partners

Alliance for a Living Ocean

Atlantic County Audubon Society

Barnegat Bay Decoy and Baymen's Museum

National Conservation and Training Center

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

Ocean County Parks Department

Ocean County Planning Department

Ocean County Soil Conservation District

Rutgers Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences

Stafford Township School District

Trenton:

A New Perspective Earth Stewards has created a new program in Trenton -- the first Earth Stewards site in an urban area. Our partners in this effort include the Washington Avenue Elementary School, PSE&G, Isles (a Trenton-based community empowerment organization), NJDEP, Washington Crossing Audubon Society, Delaware & Raritan Greenway (includes the Trenton-Hamilton Marsh Education Committee), StonyBrook-Millstone Watershed Association, and Rider University.