Wentzville Middle School Students Join 10,000 Others in GREENing Waterways with GM
Wentzville, MO (PRWEB) October 02, 2013 -- Imagine being a sixth grade student and working to solve water quality issues in Wentzville, MO. Seem far-fetched? Not really. Students from Wentzville Middle School are part of a national program called GM GREEN (Global River Environmental Education Network) that engages over 10,000 students in 26 communities across the country in addressing their area’s most pressing water challenges. The program, which is run by the national non-profit Earth Force, engages multiple partners throughout a community to empower young people to take action through inquiry-based water quality investigations.
Through a strong partnership between City of Wentzville, Earth Force, and General Motors, 350 students will get into Peruque Creek feet-first to apply the knowledge gained within the classroom to assess the stream’s health. According to a 15-year Brandeis University evaluation, this hands-on learning experience increases students’ problem-solving skills and knowledge of science and the environment, and furthers community involvement. Through these partnerships, young people in Wentzville and across the country are honing 21st century skills, working in and with their community to solve real-world water issues.
“Allowing our students to make discoveries about their environment through hands-on learning creates a powerful impact,” says Jamie Paige, Stormwater Management Coordinator at the City of Wentzville. “Not only are students gaining scientific knowledge, they are interacting with professionals in the field and making connections to the practical application of what they learn in the classroom.”
General Motors has been supporting GM GREEN since 1989, and the City of Wentzville has been facilitating it locally for ten years.
“Access to clean water is critical to any business and community member,” said Kelly Peters an environmental engineer and mentor at General Motors. “Through the GM GREEN program, we can share our knowledge about watersheds and encourage students to be leaders in advancing water quality and conservation.”
To learn more about getting involved with the GREEN program, visit our website at http://www.earthforce.org/GREEN or contact Kristen Mueller at kmueller(at)earthforce(dot)org.
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Earth Force is a national 501(c)(3) organization with headquarters in Denver, CO. Our mission is to engage young people as active citizens who improve the environment and their communities now and in the future. Through Earth Force and our network of partners, young people get hands-on, real-world opportunities to practice civic skills, acquire a deep understanding of the environment, and develop the skills and motivation to become life-long leaders in addressing community issues. Visit us at http://www.earthforce.org or follow us at @earthforce to learn more.
General Motors Co. and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
The City of Wentzville keeps our community clean and healthy by preventing water pollution, administering environmental regulations and providing public education and opportunities for involvement through the Stormwater Management Program. Over the past five years the City has involved 12,757 young people in programs and projects that improve the health of their watersheds with the help of 8,060 community volunteers. Learn more about our five year plan, goals, and community projects by visiting http://www.wentzvillemo.org/stormwater.aspx.
Kristen Mueller, Earth Force Inc, http://www.earthforce.org, (314) 640-4413, [email protected]
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