The Creation and Implementation of an Environmental Education Club to Facilitate the Introduction of Environmental Values Education and Citizen Action Skills Into L.B. Clarke Middle School in Two Rivers, Wisconsin

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to create an environmental education club to help facilitate the introduction of environmental values education and citizen action skills into grades six through eight at L. B. Clarke Middle School in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. A survey was conducted in the fall and spring of the 2001-2002 school year with a control group comprised of a representative sample of seventh grade students at the middle school. The survey was created to probe environmental knowledge, attitudes and environmental sensitivity. This survey was also administered to the members of the environmental club in the same time frame. The environmental club was evaluated based on a comparison of the pre and post surveys. The surveys were compared to observe the effects that the environmental club may have had on the environmental knowledge and attitudes of the students who joined the club. That data was also compared to the results of the control group. Major and minor projects completed by the club were also used to evaluate the effectiveness of the club based upon responses and support from club members, the administration, and other students and teachers in the Two Rivers School District. The results show growth in the strength of positive attitudes toward the environment in the students belonging to the environmental club while the control group showed gain as well, although it was not as large. Results of the environmental knowledge portion of the survey show a drop in environmental literacy among club members but a rise in environmental literacy in the control group. Possible reasons for the results are discussed.