Conferences

1) Activity Day - Saturday, April 2, 2011:

We divided into 2 groups.  Met at the museum (79th & Central Park West) and opted to participate in one of two activity options:

•  Hike the Palisades! -  We explored the landscape of the Hudson River! We crossed the George Washington Bridge on foot to the New Jersey side of the river and then descended to the River by a stone stair case constructed by many hands. We headed north along the river and to see how far we could get (students from Turkey were too jet-lagged and headed bac to NYC!), then looped back along the top of the cliff of the Palisades.  We returned to the museum around 5:00 PM. 
• Riverside Park - We became a TRANSFORMER! The second group went to Riverside Park to help get rid of invasive species. Participants met in front of the museum at 9:00 AM and returned mid afternoon. 

E-mail us at youthcan {at} iearn.org if you would like to join us on either of these adventures.

2) Preparation and Set-up - Sunday, April 3, 2011: 

Join us from 5:00 pm at the Museum to help set up the night before the big event

3) THE BIG EVENT - Monday, April 4, 2011: 

Join us for a day of workshops, huge group events, skits, and other activitives.  All workshops are on environmental interests presented by students and for other students.

Enter the museum on West 77th Street, between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West

Registration: 9:00 - 9:45 am - Inside the entrance on West 77th Street (Under the Canoe)

Opening Session: 9:45- 10:15 am - Hall of Ocean Life

Workshop Session 1: 10:25 - 11:10 am

Workshop Session 2: 11:20 - 12:05 pm

Workshop Session 3: 12:15 - 1:00 pm

Closing: 1:10 - 1:45 - Hall of Ocean Life

Session One:

**The Living Nature of Our Urban Biosphere and the impact of climate change

The Urban Divers Marine Conservation and Scientific Diving Inc. New York, NY
Our presentation will explore the theme of the living nature of our urban biosphere in NYC and the potential impacts of climate change.
For Ages: 9-17 yrs

**Organisms of New York State and How Humans Affect Them.

PS 85, New York, NY, USA
Fourth grade students at P.S. 85 in the Bronx researched ten organisms in New York State to understand their physical characteristics, adaptations, care of young, food chains, and human impact on their survival.  They then created iMovies about the organisms detailing what they learned.  Finally they made a plan to take action in an effort to reduce human impact on an organism.  Students will present their iMovies and their findings.
For Ages: 9-12 yrs

SPECIALIZED STEM POWER: Video Conference from the Philippines

SEED Quirino High School in the Philippines
Plants are the chief manufacturers of food for almost all living things on earth. Plants could be not only a food source for humans but  also a source of energy as in the production of electricity.  Through this experiment we will test and prove the viability of Solanum tuberosum (potato), a specialized stem, as a source of  electricity by just following a correct set-up of charges based on the principles of basic science.
For Ages 12-18 yrs

Part 1: “Sol” Sisters Solar Cooking Expo

Miami Country Day School, Florida, USA
Some people like problem-based learning…we prefer solution- based learning.  Environmental studies takes on an entirely new angle as students from around the world join together to save and change lives in developing countries.  An overview of solar cooking will be presented as well as highlights from successful programs throughout the world.  A video conference with Senegal will provide live coverage of one of the most successful solar cooking programs in Africa.
For Ages: 9-20 yrs

Where do parks come from?

H.S. for Law and Public Service
Everybody enjoys parks. They make our lives richer and provide space for wildlife. But where do parks come from? How does a space become a park? We will focus on several New York City Parks and how they came into being.
For Ages: 12 yrs and up

Voyage - Youth Core in Action! - Video Conference

iEARN Taiwan, TAIWAN (R.O.C.)
We are going to share the process by which the iEARN Taiwan Youth Core organized the 2011 iEARN Taiwan YouthCaN Winter Camp. The YouthCaN Winter Camp has been one of the main activities of iEARN Taiwan for years because we would like to promote the spirit of YouthCaN in Taiwan. The theme of this year is “Lit a green light, lead a better life.” We designed some courses and activities about environmental issues for students to join, discuss and present their ideas. We also invited the Society of Wilderness, an organization for nature education and conversation in Taiwan, to share their international experience and environmental volunteer work. Want to know more about us? Come and join our workshop!
For Ages: 13-18 yrs

Our City:  An Eco-Portrait by Teenage Citizens

Casey Middle School, Boulder. Colorado, USA
Over the last six months we have explored our city through literal and figurative lenses.  Teaming up with local artists, writers, naturalists, and scientists we investigated a wide-range of local environments and documented our findings through photography, drawing, writing, counting, and in-the-field scientific experiments.  We discovered some interesting patterns and a few big surprises. We are sharing our findings with the community  in local exhibitions. Come to our workshop where we'll share and discuss our project, and provide you with your own guide to create an "eco-portrait" of your community.
For Ages: 8-18 yrs

Session Two:

**A Forever Changing Forest

New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York, USA
The 50-acre native forest in The New York Botanical Garden is the largest remaining expanse of the woodland that once covered New York City. The teen volunteers (known as Intern Explainers) in the garden already knew that the forest offers a welcome respite from city life from their experiences hiking and doing tree identification. Looking ahead this year to the October grand re-opening of the newly restored trails, the teens decided to delve deeper into their understanding of forest ecology; embarking on several projects with the Forester and some other resident experts. The teen’s experiences were filmed at the beginning of this undertaking, when they began to explore what is under the surface!
For Ages: all

**GREEN GIRLS: We’re not Mean, We Go  Green!

Academy of Mount Saint Ursula, New York, New York, USA
AMSU has initiated an exciting, eco-friendly program aimed towards making the school more green. This includes having recycling bins in the cafeteria and classrooms to recycle paper and bottles, switching off lights and electronic equipment when not in use, replacing old light fixtures with energy saving ones and generally educating the students in ways to save energy at school and at home. 
For Ages: 10-18 yrs

How to Organize a Recycling Program at Your School

Grow NYC, New York, New York, USA
Students from the High School for Environmental Studies will present their school’s recycling program and then lead participants in an exercise to plan for their own school’s program in waste management.
For Ages: 8-18 yrs

Part 2: “Sol” Brothers make and take portable solar cookers

Miami Country Day School, Miami, Florida, USA
It is easy and inexpensive to make effective solar cookers.  Miami Country Day School students will demonstrate a few of the models they have designed using recycled materials.  Attendees will break into small groups and construct their own solar oven to use at their schools.
For Ages: 9-18 yrs

Biodiesel: Not Just a Hippy’s Gas

The Newark Museum Science Explorers, New Jersey, USA
Imagine growing your own gas, or running your car with waste oil from your favorite Chinese take-out! It’s not impossible!! Join us to find out how, learn more about biodiesel as an alternative source of fuel and learn how to make some (and then make soap with the by-products)!!!
Fore Ages: 13-15 yrs

Environmental Projects in our School

MS 217 (Green Magnet School for Career Expl.), Queens, New York, USA

Topic: Gardening in the Classroom

• Creating Sustainable Hydroponics System in your classroom
• How to create and maintain a vertical garden in your classroom
• Can Mulch reduce garden watering requirements?
• Creating and maintaining a greenhouse in your school
• What is the effect of oil spills on plant life?

Topic: Waste Audit

• Landfill gas power/Vermi-composting in the classroom
• Topic: Energy
• How to conduct an energy audit in your school and be rewarded with motion sensor lights for your efforts.
• Harvesting wind energy to power our sustainable water recycling system

For Ages: all

Session Three:

**Our School’s Effort to Help Protect Earth from Climate Change

Al Izhar Pondok Labu Senior High School, DKI, Jakarta, Indonesia
The purpose of the presentation is to share what our school has done in order to help protect our earth from climate change. We already did reforestation in Mt. Halimun in Indonesia, planted the coral reef in Pramuka Island in Indonesia. Hopefully this presentation could inspire more the students to save our planet.
For Ages: 12-18 yrs

**LET’S MAKE WAVES

Carl & Louis Stokes Central Academy, Ohio, USA
The future is now! Carl & Louis Stokes Central Academy Green Team is making waves by spreading the news, “our need to conserve water”. We are taking action in Service Learning as we think about those who do not have clean water. Our team will show you how community partners have helped us raise awareness about the water crisis locally and globally. We want to share how water education can help you save water at school and home. We have participated in World Water Day and raised funds for our sister school in Uganda where they don’t have clean water. All of us working together can create a better and safer environment for all.
For Ages: 11-18 yrs

YouthCaN NYC Paper Making

American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA
Are you tired of your boring old paper? Do you want paper that makes your day exciting? At our workshop you will learn how to make your own colored paper such as red stars or oreo shaped paper.  While you make your own paper you might get a little messy but its a really fun project for all ages to enjoy. This workshop is great for the environment because it helps to recycle used paper and make our planet more green. We hope to see you there, ready to transform old paper into new colorful paper!
For Ages: all

Monarch Magic

Miami Country Day School, Miami, Florida, USA
Come learn about the Monarch butterfly. Create a colorful representation of the life cycle of a butterfly and learn facts about the travels of this beautiful creature. Become a lepidopterologist!
For Ages: 8-18 yrs

Swimming In Trash

Christodora Inc (New Youth Conservationists),, New York, New York, USA
Christodora’s New Youth Conservationists have come together to help the environment and create awareness by removing trash, invasive plants, and planting trees to help restore the Bronx River Watershed. We plan to influence others to not only see the change but to be a part of the solution. Come and experience different types of fun with us by watching How to Make a Better Tomorrow (our homemade video) and plant your own tree to take home!  Every tree counts!
For Ages: 11-18 yrs

Helping Haiti with the Power of the Sun

Ransom Everglades Middle School, Florida, USA
We will be having an interactive presentation where students can come and learn about solar cooking and how we use it to help the earthquake victims in Haiti. We will have a “Jeopardy-special edition Solar Cooking” game going on that will teach people about the benefits of solar cooking in Haiti, water pasteurization, how solar cooking works and how to make a solar cooker.
For Ages: 8-18 yrs