Help 75 Students Become Earth Keepers

We are always thankful for your support, especially this time of year.  It is great to have a new season well underway with old faces and new. Eager  to connect kids to our environment and community, we hope our work lives on. We take time to reflect back on the impact we have had on young people. Maybe it was serendipitous, but I had the rare opportunity to check in with a former Earthkeepers student that we haven’t seen in a long while.

Recently, we held our annual fund raising auction which we could not pull off without volunteers. While setting up tables and displays, I had the pleasure to hear two people come up and ask how they could help me. It was a joy to realize it was Jocelyn and her mom. Jocelyn is an alumnus of the Earthkeepers program at Southwest Elementary School. She had been a recipient of a scholarship for a few years so she could attend the program. This meant so much to her, that Jocelyn wanted to show her gratitude for the opportunity to help us however she could. So she volunteered for the event. She had also done this two years ago. Without your donations, she would not have been able to attend for more than a semester, if at all.

I am happy to share the questions I asked her and her mom and their responses:

1. How much time do you now spend outside after the program? 

Jocelyn: “My grandma has a creek behind her house and I like to walk with her or my mom to the creek to see if I see anything.”

2. How did the program influence your outlook on connecting with nature? 

Jocelyn: “ I respect nature more because nature and outside is like animals’ home, and when you go to someone's house you respect it don't start messing stuff up."

3. What is she most passionate about in the natural world? 

Jocelyn: “Trees! Stop cutting down the trees!”

4. Melina, does Jocelyn share that passion with others and share her knowledge of the natural world with others?

Melina: “Jocelyn has taught me about paw prints and and shares her passion of saving the trees with  her friends and family.Thanks again for the opportunity!”- Melina

Have a great Thanksgiving. We are so very thankful that you have our backs, and continue to help us positively impact children’s lives. If you plan to donate before the end of the year, we would love to double your impact on Giving Tuesday, November 27!!