Students share their journalism pieces in their own communities. They also submit them to the Young Reporters competition for judging by a panel of jurors with a range of related expertise. The jury carefully reviewed each entry, provided helpful feedback to students on what made their pieces effective as well as suggestions for taking their work to the next level, and named winners for each media type in two age categories.

Young Reporters for the Environment USA is part of the international YRE program, which encompasses programs in 27 countries worldwide. Here in the United States, students between the ages of 13 and 18 participate. First place winners in our competition proceeded this week to the international competition for another round of judging.

The winning entries are as follows:

AGES 13-15

Writing

• 1st Prize: “Emerald Ash Borer” by Eli Cason (Cuba Middle School, Cuba, MO)
• Honorable Mention: “Pollution on the Meramec River” by Colten Barrett, Katie Wolfe, and Grace Steiger (Cuba Middle School, Cuba, MO)
• Honorable Mention: “White Nose Syndrome” by Alyssa Hemby (Cuba Middle School, Cuba, MO)

Photo

• 1st Prize: “The Buzz on the Bees” by Lexi Rockwell (Kingdom Builders Co-op, Savannah, GA)

Video

• 1st Prize: “A Tale of Two Trails” by Zachary Korff (Irving Middle School, Springfield, VA)

AGES 16-18

Writing

• 1st Prize: “Saving Energy Through Lighting” by Trey Zimmerman and Zach Major (Kenton County Academies of Innovation and Technology, Edgewood, KY)
• 2nd Prize: “Sustainability at ABRHS” by Denali Trimble, Dikshant Pradhan, and Kendall Butler (Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, Acton, MA)
• 3rd Prize: “Green Roof on the Kenton County Academies of Innovation and Technology Edgewood Campus” Building by Zack Fries and Marquea Schwing (Kenton County Academies of Innovation and Technology, Edgewood, KY)

Photo

• 1st Prize: “Pollinator” by Matthew Carras (Vermont Academy, Saxtons River, VT)

SPECIAL DISTINCTION

• “A Tale of Two Trails” (1st prize winner for video in the 13-15 years age category)

Young Reporters USA congratulates these students and all who submitted entries. We appreciate the time and energy they have dedicated to investigating important environmental issues and sharing the information they uncovered in writing, photo, and video. Balanced, objective, and solutions-oriented coverage of these issues is critical to protecting and restoring our communities and our planet. Young Reporters USA looks forward to expanding the program in years to come and helping more students hone their skills as environmental journalists.

For more about the Young Reporters USA program, including the criteria and schedule for the competition, see www.yre-usa.org

For links to the winning entries and comments from the jury about what makes an effective piece of environmental journalism, please visit www.yre-usa.org/winners.

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Lesley Jones (left) and Laura Hickey (right) enjoy some sightseeing in Washington, D.C.

I was privileged to visit one of the USA’s first Eco-Schools, Churchill Road Elementary School in Fairfax County.  So much work is going on there to reduce waste, particularly food waste through composting and sharing as well as recycling and upcycling.  The children learn so much in practical ways through growing their own fruit and vegetables – it was very inspiring.

I was also very interested to learn more about the history and development of NWF from Kevin Coyle and Laura Hickey and spend time in their beautiful offices.  I managed to find time to take a walk in the woodlands around the office and was very excited to see a cardinal.  (We just don’t have such beautiful and colourful birds in the UK.)

I had such a great time and wonderful hospitality from Laura and NWF.  I hope I can visit again some day.

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We thank Lesley for her kind words and guidance in support of our programs!

Representatives from 22 countries gathered for the annual Young Reporters meeting in Malta in February 2013.

The meeting included representatives from 22 different countries (of 27 currently participating in the program). It provided an opportunity to share information and brainstorm ideas for continued development of the program. Some countries, including Cyprus, Portugal, and Morocco, have hosted YRE for a decade or more and have a wealth of experience to contribute. Others, including the United States, are in our inaugural year. In particular, we discussed how to better integrate YRE with Eco-Schools, the other FEE program that NWF hosts. There is excellent potential for Eco-Schools students at the middle and high school levels to investigate and report on issues related to their Eco-Schools work. Younger students could also report on their school’s projects, learning journalism techniques that will prepare them to enter the YRE competition in the future (YRE USA is open to youth ages 13–18).

Our meeting concluded with a workshop by expert nature photographer Dr. Mark Mifsud from the University of Malta. After demonstrating some techniques with examples from his own work, Dr. Mifsud sent us out into Xrobb L-Ghagin Nature Park to practice with our cameras. Back in the classroom, we each chose two photos for the group to consider and, in a speed-round of judging, used our new knowledge to identify the most successful shots. It was a fun exercise that will help all of us better understand the role of both students and jury in the YRE competition!

The Azure Window on Malta’s smaller island of Gozo, one of the most spectacular views I saw along the small country’s many miles of Mediterranean coastline.

The international aspect of YRE is a great strength and provides participants with a unique opportunity to take part in a truly global endeavor.  I greatly value the chance to connect with people from so many different countries all working toward a common goal of environmental awareness and action.

There are still a few more days until the March 15, 2013 deadline for the first annual YRE USA competition – it’s not too late to submit an entry!  Learn more about the program and find all the details for participating at yre-usa.org.

Kent Keller with his “Birds-in-a-Box” kit

To combat this, I created an educational tool kit designed to inform elementary students in urban Chicago about birds and their relationship with urban ecosystems. My idea was to get them to first understand the wildlife in their own backyard, which might lead to a broader concern for conservation around the planet. With grant funding, I created my educational tool kits, which I dubbed “Birds-In-A-Box.” The kits contain materials such as books, examples of bird food, and objects that demonstrate the uses of bird beaks. The kits also contain stuffed bird toys that emit songs when pressed (complete with information sheets about each bird) and a binder full of educational material. Finally, there is a packet with student worksheets about birds.

After developing the “Birds-In-A-Box” kits, I presented and donated the kits to Chicago elementary schools. The material was well received by both students and teachers. In addition, the school administrations were happy to have me present, and expressed interest in having me return to present my kit and other environmental topics to more students. To my delight, the Field Museum in Chicago (where I was an intern for the summer) plans to incorporate “Birds-In-A-Box” elements into their urban educational program. I also wrote an article about my project and entered it into the international environmental journalism contest run by Young Reporters for the Environment and received an award for third place.

The world is facing many grave environmental problems, which plague almost every corner of the planet. I believe that the Young Reporters program provides youth with an excellent opportunity to voice their concerns and educate others about these environmental challenges. In addition, the Young Reporters program prompts youth to take real, concrete action on environmental issues, in addition to simply writing about them.

The Young Reporters program has a simple goal that I share—to spur students to build awareness and take conscious action in their community. It is a call to “get involved,” whether to encourage a change in habits or address a glaring issue in the local environment. I want to encourage students across the United States in every grade to find their voice and become a Young Reporter for the Environment!

The YRE USA team applauds Kent Keller for both his winning entry in the YRE competition and his great work connecting elementary students with nature through his innovative bird kits. Kent is a student at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, Illinois and invites you to find out more about “Birds-in-a-Box” at ConservationStarters.com. He has a passion for wildlife conservation and, as the first participant in the new YRE USA program, is leading the charge for a new wave of youth to take on the challenges and rewards of environmental journalism.

U.S. Joins International Effort to Promote Environmental Journalism to Today’s Youth

September 28 - As the United States host of the international Young Reporters for the Environment program, the National Wildlife Federation has started recruiting public, private and charter middle and high school students in the U.S. to participate in an annual competition that encourages and promotes youth environmental journalism.

The new Young Reporters for the Environment USA (YRE-USA) program is part of a rapidly-growing international network of international youth engaged in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).  It is coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education and currently operates in more than 25 countries.  The United States is one of the more recent countries to join this effort.

Sportsmen Poll: Public Lands Protection Trumps Energy Production

September 25 – A new national poll released today shows sportsmen prioritize protecting public lands above energy production. The poll conducted by Chesapeake Beach Consulting shows threats to America’s conservation heritage are priority issues for sportsmen, on par with gun rights.

“Hunters and anglers tend to be conservative politically, but many are split-ticket and independent voters. What’s clear from this poll is that sportsmen deeply value conservation and believe we have a moral responsibility to confront global warming to protect our children’s future,” said Bob Carpenter, president of Chesapeake Beach Consulting.

“Through shifting political winds, sportsmen have not flinched in their conservation values,” said Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Candidates at all levels should answer this simple question: What’s your plan for protecting our outdoor heritage for our children’s future? These are ethics that sustain America’s wildlife, outdoor economy and healthy families.”

National Wildlife Federation Announce 2012 Hike and Seek Program Changing the Nature of Childhood

September 24 - National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest conservation organization, announces the third annual Hike & Seek™ events. Hike & Seek is a series of fundraising outings that inspire a child’s sense of adventure by combining a nature hike and scavenger hunt. It brings children and adults together for a few hours in the great outdoors for some fresh fall air and fun and provides an opportunity to rediscover nature.

It doesn’t require any advance preparation; interested moms, dads, kids or whole families can sign up at www.hikeandseek.org and then show up ready to spend some family time in nature.

And here are highlights from NWF in the News:

• Washington Examiner: Maybe Michelle could add archery, fishing to Let’s Move?
• Field&Stream: New poll shows most sportsmen are environmentally minded
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Poll: Sportsmen view conservation as important as gun rights
• Public News Service: Support for Conservation from NC Hunters and Anglers
• Minneapolis Star Tribune: Poll: Hunter, angler concerns include global warming
• E&E News: Conservation tops drilling and mining for sportsmen — poll (subscription required)

For more, visit www.nwf.org/News

Carrick-a-rede in Northern Ireland. At the recent Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) General Assembly in Dublin, 70 countries were represented. (photo by Laura Hickey)

The General Assembly is where all the participating host countries that run FEE’s education programs gather to make decisions on the group’s direction.  NWF is the FEE host organization in the United States for the Eco-Schools USA program and the soon to be launched Young Reporters for the Environment program.

This year’s meeting was especially important, as decisions were made regarding where FEE will be located and how it will be structured in the future.

Coming Together as a Family

It reminded me of Thanksgiving in many ways. For my non-American friends, Thanksgiving is a traditional U.S. holiday held in November, and it is often highlighted by friends and family celebrating together and giving thanks for life’s many blessings.

An Taisce was our host for the FEE General Assembly. (photo by Laura Hickey)

An Taisce was our host for the FEE General Assembly in Ireland. An Taisce is an incredible organization that has a tremendous staff and leader in Pat Oliver, the head of their Education programs—one of my favorite people ever (I so want to be her when I grow up). Her amazing staff, Dr. Michael John O’Mahony, Anthony Purcell, Annabel Fitzgerald, and so many others arranged a well-orchestrated meeting, travel logistics, and fun cultural events that would be difficult to eclipse.

One of the items that was in our “welcome” bag was a lovely bottle of perfume called Inis.  Even more sweet was the sentiment on the packaging:

Inis is Irish for island,
But no one is an island:
We are all connected,
By seas, by oceans, by dreams,
Through keeping the channels clear.
A sea change – for all of us.

An Taisce's Pat Oliver and colleague. (photo by Laura Hickey)

I’m lucky in many ways: having two Thanksgivings in one year, being connected to such a fantastic extended family, and getting to visit incredibly beautiful countries like Ireland.

Young Reporters for the Environment program directors (photo by Karolina Slowinska)

Two members of NWF’s Eco-Schools USA team had the privilege of attending, in preparation for launching the Young Reporters program in the United States in September 2012.

Young Reporters for the Environment, like Eco-Schools, is a program of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). It engages students in investigating an environmental issue relevant to their community and then reporting on it in writing, photography, or videography. Students’ work goes to a national competition, with winning entries progressing to the international level.

Participants from over 20 different countries shared information about their programs, some well established and some, like us, just beginning. We were inspired to hear about their innovative approaches. For example:

• In Wales, reporters from the BBC serve on the national jury, raising the profile of the competition.
• In Canada, winning students gain a position as a reporter-at-large for Environmental Defense Canada.
• France has expanded its themes to include social and economic as well as environmental issues to incorporate the full breadth of education for sustainability.
• In Portugal, students learn reporting techniques by covering the sustainability initiatives of a popular music festival.
• Cyprus held an event at which young reporters interviewed a highly regarded politician about his work on behalf of the environment.
• Kazakhstan brought students together with skilled journalists for an experience exchange.
• In Slovakia, the Young Reporters program actually became its own news agency; the country lacked any environmental journalists, so students filled the gap, submitting their best work to public media.

Program directors at the Artemis Temple

After connecting with fellow YRE coordinators from around the world and hearing about their successful endeavors, we are even more excited to bring this program to the U.S. soon!

To learn more about the international Young Reporters for the Environment program, click here.