For the students of Glenbow Elementary School, taking care of Mother Nature is of the utmost of importance.
Parents, teachers and several other dignitaries were part of a press conference held at the school April 26 that highlighted the environmental efforts being made by Glenbow students.
“Glenbow is a place where curiosity and appreciation of nature is certainly evident,” said principal Brendan Trinca.
Also present during the event were Banff-Cochrane MLA Ron Casey, executive director of the Alberta Council for Environmental Education Gareth Thomson and journalist/author Richard Louv commended the Cochrane elementary school for the educational direction it was taking.
“You’re seeing the 21st Century school,” said Louv, citing several studies revealing that those connected to nature have greater mental and physical health. “Anyone who looks at this body of evidence knows we need a new kind of school…like this one.”
A San Diego, Calif. resident, Louv is the author of eight books about the connections between family, nature and community. His most recent book is The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder.
“We’ve taken the calming effect of nature away from the kids,” said Louv, pointing to the influx of computer, television and hand-held devices as culprits.
Louv said those who spend their time in front of a computer screen are ‘killing their senses,’ and that no other generation has been so disconnected to the natural environment around them.
“The future will belong to the nature-smart,” he said.
Grade 4 Glenbow teachers Kim Kendal-Knitter and Kara Vincent were proud of the work their students and the school were doing to reconnect Cochrane’s youth to the outdoors.
“Environmental stewardship is alive and well in our school,” said Kendal-Knitter, voicing her pleasure that Glenbow provides a model for seeds to be planted within its students to value nature.
A panel of nine Grade 4 students – Nathan Hill, Finn Pitman, Lauren Enders, Jocelyn Eckert, Sadie Kupery, Jorja Powers, Zane Blondeau-Bezler, Ellie Bates and Leah Issler – was present to attest to what they enjoyed about nature.
“Learning looks different outside,” said Kupery. “Learning in the classroom lets us learn about things, but learning outside lets us be part of things.”
Casey applauded how Glenbow was changing the way it teaches its students; to connect with nature.
“We’re very lucky to live in this constituency,” said Casey, highlighting natural wonders like the Bow River and Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park sitting at Cochrane’s doorstep.
Thomson said Alberta needs to continue to be a world leader in education, and though the province was doing a good job moving forward, it was not all the way there yet.
As for how students and schools can continue moving forward and reconnecting with nature, Thomson cited one of his favourite quotes.
“Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up.”
