2008 Woodie Awards
Nearby facility teaches importance of going green
By Matt Georger
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Focus
During the five days of Sunship Earth, students stay at McKeever in one of three lodge buildings. These resemble army barracks, with 12 bunk beds on each half of the lodge and a common area in between. Bires said outside groups, such as businesses and churches, often rent these facilities for training sessions or retreats. These unorthodox adult living quarters enhance the bonding experience, he said.
In addition to working with schools, McKeever coordinates events for the public as well. These range from a fly fishing clinic in May, to a forest ecology camp in July and a nature art show in September.
Many of these events are planned by McKeever Environmental Interpretive Technician Julie Harasti. Harasti, 26, is in her third year at McKeever. She said her job requires her to wear many different hats, but she feels rewarded when people come to her events.
"It's wonderful to get people outside and just appreciate nature," Harasti said. "It's not important to look at a tree and say, 'Hey, that's an oak tree,' but just to realize, 'Wow, that's a tree, it gives us oxygen.'"
June 2 is the American Hiking Society's National Trails Day, which is Harasti's favorite day at McKeever. This will be the third year Harasti has coordinated an event for National Trails Day. This year's will focus on the health benefits of hiking, with free blood pressure screenings being offered. She said there will also be a compass challenge and a scavenger hike.
Harasti and Bires are two of only four full-time staff members at McKeever. The rest of their help comes from area college students.
Every year, education majors from several local universities come to McKeever to fulfill half of their student teaching requirements. They live on-site in a recently built residence for eight weeks, while helping to run programs and gaining teaching experience.
Student-teachers may find themselves back at the center once they become teachers, too.
"We do a lot of teacher workshops," Harasti said, "so teachers can get their Act 48 hours."
Act 48 requires all teachers in Pennsylvania acquire 180 hours of professional development every five years. Teachers who don't comply with Act 48 can have their teaching certificates deactivated, meaning they are not allowed to be employed as full-time teachers.
The teacher workshops focus on the same principles as the programs designed for students. In June, McKeever is offering a sustainability workshop that will show teachers ways to better use energy and to teach sustainability practices to their students.
Educating both children and adults on the meaning and practice of sustainability is what the McKeever staff does almost every day. They recognize the importance of the topic, but Bires said his mission is even more basic.
"The philosophy here is to offer events to get people outdoors," Bires said. "To get people out and about, spending more time outside and developing a knowledge base about the natural world."
In addition to working with schools, McKeever coordinates events for the public as well. These range from a fly fishing clinic in May, to a forest ecology camp in July and a nature art show in September.
Many of these events are planned by McKeever Environmental Interpretive Technician Julie Harasti. Harasti, 26, is in her third year at McKeever. She said her job requires her to wear many different hats, but she feels rewarded when people come to her events.
"It's wonderful to get people outside and just appreciate nature," Harasti said. "It's not important to look at a tree and say, 'Hey, that's an oak tree,' but just to realize, 'Wow, that's a tree, it gives us oxygen.'"
June 2 is the American Hiking Society's National Trails Day, which is Harasti's favorite day at McKeever. This will be the third year Harasti has coordinated an event for National Trails Day. This year's will focus on the health benefits of hiking, with free blood pressure screenings being offered. She said there will also be a compass challenge and a scavenger hike.
Harasti and Bires are two of only four full-time staff members at McKeever. The rest of their help comes from area college students.
Every year, education majors from several local universities come to McKeever to fulfill half of their student teaching requirements. They live on-site in a recently built residence for eight weeks, while helping to run programs and gaining teaching experience.
Student-teachers may find themselves back at the center once they become teachers, too.
"We do a lot of teacher workshops," Harasti said, "so teachers can get their Act 48 hours."
Act 48 requires all teachers in Pennsylvania acquire 180 hours of professional development every five years. Teachers who don't comply with Act 48 can have their teaching certificates deactivated, meaning they are not allowed to be employed as full-time teachers.
The teacher workshops focus on the same principles as the programs designed for students. In June, McKeever is offering a sustainability workshop that will show teachers ways to better use energy and to teach sustainability practices to their students.
Educating both children and adults on the meaning and practice of sustainability is what the McKeever staff does almost every day. They recognize the importance of the topic, but Bires said his mission is even more basic.
"The philosophy here is to offer events to get people outdoors," Bires said. "To get people out and about, spending more time outside and developing a knowledge base about the natural world."
Be the first to comment on this story