High school students to visit IU Bloomington for hands-on sustainability program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Sixteen high school students from Indianapolis will be at Indiana University Bloomington this week to take part in hands-on learning as part of the inaugural Summer Experience in Sustainability and the Environment.
The program, developed by the Integrated Program in the Environment with support from the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs and its Community and School Partnerships, will bring a multidisciplinary approach to connecting youth with environmental studies.
Taking place July 7 to 10, it will include learning and service activities on the IU Bloomington campus, at the university’s Research and Teaching Preserve and in the Bloomington community. Students will stay on campus in the Briscoe Residence Center.
“I’m excited to welcome these students to the first Summer Experience in Sustainability and the Environment,” said Sarah Mincey, associate director of the Integrated Program in the Environment. “It’s a privilege to host these youth at IU Bloomington given their demonstrated interest in sustainability and environmental solutions to global change. Our program connects them with experts in sustainability and environmental studies and our highly ranked academic programs in these fields.”
Participants in the program were recruited through Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and environment of the city while promoting values of teamwork, responsibility, excellence, openness, balance and joy.
The 16 students are part of the organization’s Youth Tree Team, a seven-week summer job program in which teenagers preserve and maintain the trees planted by the organization. The students attend public schools in Indianapolis, and the majority are members of groups that are underrepresented in higher education and would be first-generation college students.
The IU Summer Experience in Sustainability and the Environment program is designed to engage high school students in educational experiences focused on sustainability and the environment. The program aims to expand the students’ awareness and understanding of environmental issues and expose them to sustainability education. It targets students of color and prospective first-generation college students, who are underrepresented in environmental and sustainability studies.
Activities will include:
- An opportunity to help with the IU Office of Sustainability campus tree inventory.
- Activities at the IU Research and Teaching Preserve, including hiking, stream sampling, nature writing and nature drawing.
- A visit to the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market to consider sustainable food systems.
- A session at Hilltop Garden and Nature Center on growing indigo for sustainable textiles.
The IU Integrated Program in the Environment was launched in 2013 and is administered by the School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences. Bringing together more than 100 faculty members from 25 academic departments, it encourages interdisciplinary collaboration focused on environmental studies in the classroom, lab, field, outreach and other activities.
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Students conduct stream sampling at the IU Research and Teaching Preserve. Participants in the Summer Experience in Sustainability and the Environment will take part in similar activities at the preserve this week.
