MLK DAY!

 Come join local AmeriCorps members and community volunteers from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at GRuB (Garden-Raised Bounty) in Olympia, Washington, for a FREE day of fun games, art projects and outdoor activities that are all focused on the ENVIRONMENT! Learn how to become empowered, save the planet, and better your community as we honor the important work of Martin Luther King Jr.

MLK Day EcoHero Camp will consist of four one-hour workshops (two morning session workshops and two afternoon session workshops) where youth participants will have the chance to play environmental games, construct an environmental art mobile, go on a short hike through a nearby park, learn about watershed stewardship, hear a story told by a storyteller from the Squaxin tribe elder and more! A FREE LUNCH with gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options will be provided.

Click HERE for the event flier!

SCHEDULE

8:15 am-8:45am: Registration

8:45 am-8:50 am: Registration/Welcome Game

8:50 am- 9:00 am: Formal welcome

9:05 am -10:00 am: First activity period

10:05 am-10:20 am: "Snacktivity"

10:25 am-11:20 am: Second activity period

11:00am-11:20am: Registration for Afternoon Session

11:20 pm-11:30 am: Welcome and rules for the afternoon participants.

11:15 am-12:15 pm: Lunch/Video for Morning Session

12:15 pm-12:20 pm: Regroup and move to next activity

12:25 pm-1:20 pm: Third activity period

1:25 pm-1:40 pm: “Snacktivity”

1:45 pm -2:40 pm: Fourth activity period

2:40pm-3:00pm: Kids assemble for keynote speaker/Filming of afternoon session

3:00 pm-4:00 pm: Keynote speaker. All ages are welcome to attend

WORKSHOPS AND DESCRIPTIONS

The day will be a split into two sessions  with 2 workshop opportunities in each section. Participants have the option to either sign up for the morning, afternoon, afternoon + keynote speaker, or all day. There will be 6 workshops that will run at each of the 4 workshop segments, so students who participate for the whole day will be able to attend two-thirds of the workshops. Each workshop has a suggested age range for participants to take note of during registration.

 

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
see below for descriptions

- Games to Inspire EcoHeroes

- Create an EnviroMobile

- Leave No Trace At Every Place

- Grow Your Own GRuB

- Watershed Stewardship & Salmon People Story

- A Day In The Life of a Scientist

 

FULL DESCRIPTIONS

Workshop: Games to inspire EcoHeroes!

Focus Word: Engagement

Facilitator: Eva Donjacour , Native Plant Salvage

Volunteers: Katie Schmitz, Lacey Stream Team

Appropriate for Grades:

Morning Session

Session one: 3rd and 4th graders

Session two: 5th and 6th graders

Afternoon Session

Session one: 7th and 8th

Session two: 3rd and 4th graders

Description:

If you want to get up, move around, and play some really fun games then the Games to Inspire Eco-Heroes activity station is where you want to be! Our three experiential education games will stretch your arms, legs, and brain! During our hour together we will get to know one another better while discovering new ways to create a world that can support all the people and animals in the community. Martin Luther King Jr. and the many people who worked with him were a group of very engaged individuals. During this activity station we encourage everyone to be as engaged with the games as much as they can. Learning how to work in teams is one of the cornerstones for building a strong community that is working towards a healthy and positive environment. This activity station is for kids who want spend an hour laughing, working together, and reflecting on what nature can teach us.

 

Workshop: Create an EnviroMobile

Focus Word: Interconnectedness

Facilitator: Krista Elvey , Native Plant Salvage

Volunteers: Lisa , Thurston County Master Gardeners

Appropriate for Grades: 5th-8th

Description:

The Environmental Mobile is intended to get students thinking about how problems that affect the environment also affect people. The end product will be a hanging mobile that represents the interconnectedness of social and environmental issues. Items on the mobile are inextricably linked and need to be balanced just as the relationships between humans and ecosystems. Students will also be given a worksheet with a graphic that correlates to this concept.

Students will be provided with several fun objects to hang on their mobile, and be able to create/paint more items. There will be a fun discussion associated with each object, along with plenty of time to create a beautiful mobile to take home!

 

Workshop: Leave No Trace At Every Place

Focus Word: Outdoor Ethics

Facilitator/Organization: Greg Dunbar , Thurston Conservation District

Volunteers: 1 member of Puget Sound Corps

Appropriate for Grades: 6th-8th

Description:

Outside hike/tour to a small forest near Garfield Elementary (the forest is located at the Garfield Nature Trail Park). Once we get to the park, we will teach children how to Leave No Trace with specific activities pertaining to the Leave No Trace principles.

Outside hike that teaches children how to Leave No Trace with specific activities pertaining to the 7 Leave No Trace principles.

Activities

Bandana Bonanza (Plan Ahead and Prepare)

-Learn how to use items for multiple purposes, which will help participants plan for future camping/hiking situations and carry less weight.

Stick to the Path (Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces)

-Learn how venturing off the path can damage vegetation, destroy habitat and erode the land.

Pack it In, Pack it Out (Dispose of Waste Properly)

-Look for garbage along the hike on the way back and pick it up!

Look, but don’t touch… (Leave What You Find)

-Point out flora and fauna to the participants and discuss their roles in the ecosystem and the importance of leaving them alone.

Animals Have Feelings Too! (Respect Wildlife)

-Learn about the importance of being quiet and observing wildlife from a distance and camping at least 200 feet from a water source.

The Outdoors are for Everyone (Be Considerate of Other Visitors)

-Learn about the different guidelines for passing people, bicyclists and livestock on a trail.

 

Workshop: Grow Your Own GRuB

Focus Word: Empowerment

Facilitator/Organization: Tegan Hurley  & Cece Watkins, GRuB

Volunteers: GRuB Youth

Appropriate for Grades:

Morning Session:

Description:

Have you ever wondered where exactly your food is coming from? If you're ready for an answer, or maybe you're just excited to get your hands dirty, then this workshop is for you. In this workshop you will learn the basics of growing your own food, and why this is so important. With the help of teenagers who grow food everyday at GRuB, you will learn all about the different parts of a plant that we can eat, and then make recycled planting pots to grow your own seedlings. For younger campers, this workshop will focus on play and exploration. Older campers will learn more about food justice, and how growing your own food can change the world.

 

Workshop: Watershed Stewardship & Salmon People Story

Focus Word: Full-Circle Teachings

Facilitator/Organization: Bridget Ray ,Planner, Squaxin Island Tribe

Volunteers: Sheena Kaas, Solid Waste & Recycling Manager, Squaxin Island Tribe

Appropriate for Grades: 3rd-8th

Description:

Learning about salmon and their ecology through Story, Experience and Information. Children learn that what sustains the fish also sustains humans and the ecosystems. The Environmental Justice lesson in this workshop is that not only is the voice of the 2-legged people important when shaping how we manage our ecosystem, but that there are many people whose voices need our advocacy-- we all share the watershed in harmony.

Because the Watershed is so complex, the traditional technology of storytelling is used. We will employ the One With the Watershed curriculum which is built around an ancient Squamish story, echoed by many of the Salish people, about a time long ago, when the salmon went away. Within this tale is the teaching of our Ancestors. From the oldest traditions, we gain a fresh approach to environmental education and stewardship.

 

Workshop: A Day in the Life of a Scientist

Focus Word: Curiosity and Observation

Facilitator/Organization: Washington Conservation Corps

Volunteers: 3 Members from Washington Conservation Corps

Appropriate for Grades: All, targeting 3rd -6th

Description:

What it means to be a scientist and the importance of curiosity and observations. Anyone can be a scientist if they know how to use all of their senses. Focusing on marine environments.

Environmental lab: Allowing the kids to create their own laboratory setting, using microscopes to look at beach sediments and marine organisms. Teaching about laboratory tools and techniques.

Observation Station: Using your keen senses to identify and describe what you are seeing in a matching game format. Different categories for seaweeds, clams and snails. We may incorporate some nearshore plants into this as well.

Rain gear Relay: Going out on a rainy day in your rain gear and survey equipment can be challenging. Teams of 2-4 relay using field gear, hard hats and sampling equipment.

 

 

REGISTRATION OPTIONS

Note: Students MUST register for specific workshops in the session they'll be attending.

Morning Session: 8:30am-12:15pm

Afternoon Session: 11:00am-2:45pm

Afternoon Session + Keynote Speaker: 11:00am-4:00pm

All Day: 8:30am-4:00pm

FOR PARENTS

Students must have a signed liability waiver to enter MLK EcoHero Camp on event day. Emergency contact information should be completed on this on-line registration form. If there are any special details we should know, please note such items on the registration form.

The event will be fully staffed with  AmeriCorps members and trained volunteers. We will be heading outside for short portions of the day, so please be sure that your child bring the appropriate winter attire/rain gear to participate.

Registration will occur at the main entrance of the building. There will be supervising staff for all areas of the event, along with staff who will supervise students waiting to be picked up at the end of the sessions.

Your child will be making crafts and receiving a number of take-home items at the event. Please make sure he/she brings a bag to transport their crafts/items/etc.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at (360)867-2166.

Note: You will receive a confirmation email following registration. Check your spam folder if the email doesn't arrive in your inbox immediately.

DONATIONS

MLK EcoHero Day is a completely FREE event, made possible by many generous time/monetary donations from participating organizations and exterior sources. We are asking parents to contribute a small donation which will be used to help reimburse our staff for workshop supplies,venue costs,lunch, and additional expenses.

Donations in any denomination are greatly appreciated!

Suggested Donation: $2-$20