Earthkeepers program
Topic
Flow of energy in ecosystems, one on the cycling of materials, one on the interrelationships between living and nonliving things, and the final one on change over time
Learning Objectives
Framed as a “magical learning adventure”, the earth education program Earthkeepers aims at gaining a deeper understanding of our natural environment and at developing pro-environmental behavior through outdoor activities. Organized around the work KEYS (for Knowledge, Experience, Yourself, and Sharing).
Description of the learning process and activities
The program consists of (1) a three-day outdoor experience at an environmental learning center and (2) follow-through
back in the classroom. There are four knowledge activities, each a participatory experience outdoors lasting 75–90
min, with a focus on big picture understanding. The students can earn four keys (K, E, Y and S) to become an
Earthkeeper. Students are invited to participate through a letter they receive from a mysterious character known only by
the initials E.M. Each time a student earns one of the keys, they are able to open a locked box to reveal one of the
secret meanings of E.M.’s name. For example, opening the K box shows that E.M. means Energy and Materials, the overall
focus of the Knowledge portion of the program. Earning keys and opening boxes helps to create a sense of magic and
adventure while also reinforcing the main points of the program.
During the three days at the center, participants receive two keys, Knowledge (K) and Experience (E), for learning about
ecological concepts and for engaging in experiences like observations or discoveries. There are four knowledge
activities, each a participatory experience outdoors lasting 75–90 min, with a focus on big picture understanding. One
focuses on the flow of energy in ecosystems, one on the cycling of materials, one on the interrelationships between
living and nonliving things, and the final one on change over time. All aim to make abstract ecological concepts more
concrete for the learners, and each includes an application component. Experience also consists of four outdoor,
participatory activities, focusing on observation, discovery, immersion and solitude. These activities aim to help the
students develop environmentally positive feelings, values, and attitudes. Other activities during the three days help
the students to process what they are learning and experiencing and learn about ways that they can lessen their impact
on the environment when they return home to work on the next two keys. Back at school, the students earn the Y
(Yourself) key if they lessen their impact on and deepen their feelings for the earth. They select individual tasks to
save energy and to save materials and spend time in nature, all on a regular basis for at least one month to form new
habits. The S (Sharing) key is for sharing experiences with others. It is important to note that not all students earn
the Y and S keys; only those who provide evidence that they have done the required tasks receive the last two keys and
become an Earthkeeper. Teachers encourage the students to do so, but completion is not mandatory.
Organisations involved
1. Centre of Math & Science Education (Z-MNU), Department of Biology Education, University of Bayreuth, 95447
Bayreuth, Germany
2. Department of Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
brucej@arizona.edu
3. Affiliate Research Scientist, Earth Education Research & Evaluation, College of Education,
University of Arizona; Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Franz.Bogner@uni-bayreuth.de
In the project, we identified five main stakeholders in sharing the power of the programs: program designers, program
leaders, students, teachers, and parents
The program has been designed and developed by the Institute for Earth Education in the United States and shared with
other centers worldwide.
Other remarks
