ESF S.C.I.E.N.C.E.—Summer Camps Investigating Ecology in Neighborhood and City Environments
ESF Science Corps

• SUNY ESF Program Teaches Kids About Science and Nature
  on radio 570WSYR, 8/8/07
• ESF Science Corps and Girls Inc. of CNY Research Pollution at Elmwood Park
• News Channel 9 story on ESF SCIENCE at Dr. Weeks School with Catholic Charities
• Read Science Lessons
  from The Post-Standard, 8/8/07
• Read Turning over a Wasteland
  from The Post-Standard, 7/10/07
• Read Expanding the Environment
  from The Post-Standard, 8/6/06

The ESF SCIENCE* summer camp program achieves several of the targets outlined by the College’s Vision 2020: A Better World Through Environmental Discovery. ESF SCIENCE exposes Syracuse middle school students (upcoming fall 7th and 8th graders) to science and environmental education. Through summer environmental camps, students are involved in programs that emphasize urban ecology and urban ecosystems that are relevant to their lives, a critical key for cultivating and sustaining interest in science during the middle school years and beyond. The environmental summer camp, situated in local green spaces such as Elmwood Park and the Onondaga Creek corridor, makes students more aware of urban environmental issues and motivates students to become involved in determining the outcomes of environmental problem solving. In addition, students are involved in service learning projects that promote environmental stewardship and environmental awareness, as students take pride in maintaining and improving the environment for their communities.

The program entails ESF Science Corps mentors, collaborations with community partners, and experiential learning approaches, including a trip to ESF’s main campus.

New for 2007, the ESF Science Corps partnered with CNY Works and Syracuse City Parks & Recreation to engage in a youth education & employment program entitled Stewards of Syracuse (SOS). SOS provides a four-week ESF SCIENCE experience for about 25 youth (14-15 yr olds) that focuses on environmental stewardship and science exploration in Syracuse City Parks.

ESF SCIENCE serves our communities’ urban youth through
scientific exploration and environmental stewardship

The present summer camp program consists of thirteen one-week camp sessions delivered in partnership with other community-based and educational organizations, including Syracuse City School District (SCSD), Girls Inc., Boys and Girls Club, Spanish Action League, Syracuse City Parks and Recreation, and our new partners for 2007—CNY Works & Catholic Charities of Onondaga County. Each session enrolls 20-25 middle-school aged students with instruction provided by the ESF Science Corps with direction and support from ESF staff and faculty. The program focuses on urban ecology and ecosystems, and each session includes at least one day on the ESF main campus.

In addition to building a solid foundation for environmental education and discovery for its participants, ESF SCIENCE provides important linkages to other programs designed to enhance students’ academic and career opportunities. The summer camp serves as an introduction or “launching point” for many of its participants to several programs available to them, including school-year apprenticeships, school-year mentoring from ESF Science Corps for curricular and extra-curricular activities, and participation in the ESF/SCSD Environmental Challenge. In addition, environmental stewardship initiatives introduce students to the mission and responsibilities of several public, private and non-profit environmental organizations, including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Central New York Wildfowlers, and Trout Unlimited (TU).

ESF SCIENCE Goals and Objectives

• Goal 1: Enrich student science learning and career exploration using inquiry, experiential, and critical thinking approaches in the urban environment.
  • Objective 1.1: Engage students in the use of scientific concepts and methods to understand local urban ecosystems.
  • Objective 1.2: Engage all students, including underrepresented minorities and girls, in science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM) learning and career exploration.
  • Objective 1.3: Enhance student learning and enthusiasm for science.
• Goal 2: Strengthen partnerships between ESF, Syracuse City School District (SCSD), and community organizations.
  • Objective 2.1: Further develop existing collaborations between ESF, SCSD, and community organizations.
  • Objective 2.2: Create and nurture additional alliances between ESF and other community agencies.
• Goal 3: Improve communication and teaching skills for Science Corps participants.
  • Objective 3.1: Develop Science Corps participants’ ability to plan, conduct, and evaluate experiential learning experiences.

* This program is made possible, in part, with funding made available by Congressman James Walsh through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.