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ATP PROGRAM PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND ACTIVISM
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-08-09-atp-program-promotes-environmental-education-and-activism
Published: Friday August 09, 2013
ATP operates environmental education centers near its tree nurseries
in Margahovit and Karin villages.
Related Articles ATP opens Center for Environmental Studies in Lori
ATP drafts U.S., Armenian officials for tree-planting efforts
YEREVAN - The quality of irrigation water in Aghtsk, the condition
of the public park in Margahovit, and the cleanup of the grounds of
Isahakyan Park in Gyumri were some of the topics presented by students
at a workshop hosted by Armenia Tree Project (ATP).
High school students from Aghtsk, Margahovit, and Gyumri participated
in a poster presentation on June 10 at ATP's Michael and Virginia
Center for Environmental Studies. The event was part of a collaborative
program between ATP and Armenia's National Institute of Education
(NIE) on the integration of environmental education in the social
sciences curriculum.
"The goal of the program was to introduce environmental education
to these students and to create a generation that is not only aware
of current environmental issues, but is concerned enough to learn
specific skills to solve the issues," explained Karine Harutyunyan,
social sciences specialist from the NIE. "We hope such projects
will contribute to the formation of socially active and responsible
citizens."
Student groups in grades 8-10 were instructed to identify a local
environmental problem and conduct independent research on the issue
including a study of relevant legislation and regulations. The students
recommended solutions and addressed their findings to responsible
officials and organizations for implementation.
The exercise was based on articles in Armenia's Constitution that
address the right to live in a healthy environment and the Aarhus
Convention which guarantees public access to information about the
environment.
Environmental education has been one of ATP's core programs since
the 2005 publication of the "Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree" teacher's
manual. A second edition of the manual was published in cooperation
with the NIE in 2010 and already more than 1,200 teachers from all
regions of Armenia have been trained on its use in the classroom.
ATP operates education centers near its tree nurseries in Margahovit
and Karin villages, where local and diasporan students visit for
lessons andoutdoor field-based learning. Nearly 1,400 students
including young schoolchildren and university students visited the
Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental Educational Center in
Karin Village last year.
The Michael and Virginia Ohanian Center for Environmental Studies was
inaugurated in Margahovit in 2012 and has already hosted more than
200 visitors. The center is run by biology teacher, Gayane Margaryan,
who supervises several student eco clubs that meet there regularly.
Elementary and high school students are members of the eco clubs,
where they discuss environmental challenges, do hands-on work at the
ATP center, and learn environmentally friendly methods of gardening.
Earlier this year, ATP partnered with the Italian CISP charitable
organization (International Committee for the Development of People)
on teacher training focused on the Lori region. ATP trained teachers on
the use of the "Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree" manual and "Participatory
and Innovative Pedagogical Tools for Education on Environmental Health"
prepared by the French Histoires Recyclables NGO.
A total of 125 teachers have already been trained, and the program
will continue this fall. "It is of major importance for ATP to conduct
environmental training in these regions as there has been widespread
deforestation caused by logging and other environmental challenges,"
explained program manager Alla Sahakyan.
"Teachers seem to appreciate this opportunity as it demonstrates
innovative methods and introduces new insights for environmental
education. International organizations are interested in our trainings,
and we're excited about our first training with CISP," continued
Sahakyan. "We express our gratitude to CISP for their charitable
mission throughout the world. When organizations having similar
interests cooperate in their activities, it leads to even greater
impact and encouraging results."
ATP's mission is to assist the Armenian people in using trees
to improve their standard of living and protect the environment,
guided by the desire to promote self-sufficiency, aid those with the
fewest resources first, and conserve the indigenous ecosystem. ATP's
three major programs are tree planting, environmental education,
and sustainable development initiatives. For more information, please
visit the website www.armeniatree.org.
From: Baghdasarian
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-08-09-atp-program-promotes-environmental-education-and-activism
Published: Friday August 09, 2013
ATP operates environmental education centers near its tree nurseries
in Margahovit and Karin villages.
Related Articles ATP opens Center for Environmental Studies in Lori
ATP drafts U.S., Armenian officials for tree-planting efforts
YEREVAN - The quality of irrigation water in Aghtsk, the condition
of the public park in Margahovit, and the cleanup of the grounds of
Isahakyan Park in Gyumri were some of the topics presented by students
at a workshop hosted by Armenia Tree Project (ATP).
High school students from Aghtsk, Margahovit, and Gyumri participated
in a poster presentation on June 10 at ATP's Michael and Virginia
Center for Environmental Studies. The event was part of a collaborative
program between ATP and Armenia's National Institute of Education
(NIE) on the integration of environmental education in the social
sciences curriculum.
"The goal of the program was to introduce environmental education
to these students and to create a generation that is not only aware
of current environmental issues, but is concerned enough to learn
specific skills to solve the issues," explained Karine Harutyunyan,
social sciences specialist from the NIE. "We hope such projects
will contribute to the formation of socially active and responsible
citizens."
Student groups in grades 8-10 were instructed to identify a local
environmental problem and conduct independent research on the issue
including a study of relevant legislation and regulations. The students
recommended solutions and addressed their findings to responsible
officials and organizations for implementation.
The exercise was based on articles in Armenia's Constitution that
address the right to live in a healthy environment and the Aarhus
Convention which guarantees public access to information about the
environment.
Environmental education has been one of ATP's core programs since
the 2005 publication of the "Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree" teacher's
manual. A second edition of the manual was published in cooperation
with the NIE in 2010 and already more than 1,200 teachers from all
regions of Armenia have been trained on its use in the classroom.
ATP operates education centers near its tree nurseries in Margahovit
and Karin villages, where local and diasporan students visit for
lessons andoutdoor field-based learning. Nearly 1,400 students
including young schoolchildren and university students visited the
Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental Educational Center in
Karin Village last year.
The Michael and Virginia Ohanian Center for Environmental Studies was
inaugurated in Margahovit in 2012 and has already hosted more than
200 visitors. The center is run by biology teacher, Gayane Margaryan,
who supervises several student eco clubs that meet there regularly.
Elementary and high school students are members of the eco clubs,
where they discuss environmental challenges, do hands-on work at the
ATP center, and learn environmentally friendly methods of gardening.
Earlier this year, ATP partnered with the Italian CISP charitable
organization (International Committee for the Development of People)
on teacher training focused on the Lori region. ATP trained teachers on
the use of the "Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree" manual and "Participatory
and Innovative Pedagogical Tools for Education on Environmental Health"
prepared by the French Histoires Recyclables NGO.
A total of 125 teachers have already been trained, and the program
will continue this fall. "It is of major importance for ATP to conduct
environmental training in these regions as there has been widespread
deforestation caused by logging and other environmental challenges,"
explained program manager Alla Sahakyan.
"Teachers seem to appreciate this opportunity as it demonstrates
innovative methods and introduces new insights for environmental
education. International organizations are interested in our trainings,
and we're excited about our first training with CISP," continued
Sahakyan. "We express our gratitude to CISP for their charitable
mission throughout the world. When organizations having similar
interests cooperate in their activities, it leads to even greater
impact and encouraging results."
ATP's mission is to assist the Armenian people in using trees
to improve their standard of living and protect the environment,
guided by the desire to promote self-sufficiency, aid those with the
fewest resources first, and conserve the indigenous ecosystem. ATP's
three major programs are tree planting, environmental education,
and sustainable development initiatives. For more information, please
visit the website www.armeniatree.org.
From: Baghdasarian