Engage youth as partners in stewardship rather than as subjects to be taught¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The guide promotes a partnership approach in which young people lead their own learning and stewardship projects. "The curriculum engages youth as partners in riparian stewardship, rather than as subjects who need to be taught what to think or do." Recommended strategies include encouraging youth to set activity goals, arranging reflection opportunities, building on skills youth already have, involving youth as leaders who have never led before, and defining accountability. The guide states that when youth lead the project, they gain a sense of ownership of the results.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Adults model expected behaviors and set responsibilities at appropriate levels
• Youth have an active voice in choosing what they will do and how to proceed

Constraints¶

• The guide presents this as a proven education strategy without citing supporting data in this document

Target Learners¶

• youth ages 10-14 in community and school programs

Target Learning Goals¶

• environmental stewardship
• problem-solving application
• citizenship and sense of place

Related Strategies¶

• Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR)
• Student Voice In Curriculum Planning
• Racial Equity in PBL - Focus Projects on Issues of Justice
• Community Involvement
• Coach youth to recognize problem-solving opportunities, master effective heuristics, and bolster motivation through collaboration

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Reilly, K., Wooster, B., Andrews, E., Bourdeau, V., Conley, R., & Thompson, M. (2008). Holding onto the GREEN Zone Leader Guide: A Youth Program for the Study and Stewardship of Community Riparian Areas. Bureau of Land Management. https://www.blm.gov/education