Help 75 Students Become Earth Keepers

One of my favorite parts about bringing our afterschool programs to the Orange County middle schools is watching the teachers experience our programs as well.

These teachers, who have often spent the entire day in classrooms of their own, are the most excited to go to the outdoor classrooms and connect with nature. When our ambassador animals come, the teachers ask the most questions. When we play new games, the teachers are often the first to volunteer. 

One of the awareness skills we teach is Deer Ears. It demonstrates how prey animals change the direction of their ears to listen for predators. Campers can practice this by cupping their hands around their ears and moving them toward different sounds.

To demonstrate how far you can use Deer Ears we line up the group so their Deer Ears are facing the counselor, but their eyes are facing away. The counselor will slowly walk away from the line but stop every few feet to make a noise and the campers raise their hands each time they hear it.

It is amazing to see the group react when they realize the counselor has made it at least 100 yards away and they can hear them perfectly. Each time I have led this activity the teachers express their excitement about bringing their own students outside and teaching Deer Ears themselves. 

I am always grateful our earthkeepers program does not just reach the afterschool students but to the teachers as well who can share it past our reach and I am grateful for the support of the donors who have allowed us to return to these schools.

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