Empowering the Future Environmental Workforce

Originally posted on the Green Teen Alliance’s blog.

“I realized that we have to stop thinking that people and nature are separate.”
– Basecamp attendee

Each summer, participants in the St. Louis Green Teen Alliance (GTA) kick off their shared internship experience at Basecamp, an educational community-building event for future environmental stewards. Formed by several local organizations in 2014, the GTA aims “to better engage youth in our farms, forests, and fields” and “grow the future of the green workforce.” GTA organizations include the Audubon Center at Riverlands, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri and the Missouri Botanical Garden. Community partners include the Missouri Department of Conservation and Forest Park Forever.

This year, 33 interns and staff from GTA organizations gathered in Forest Park to network and consider ways to address environmental challenges—specifically habitat destruction and global biodiversity loss—in their lives and work. They spent an engaging day at the Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape in Forest Park, observing nature, learning about the importance of conservation and thinking about ways to advocate for plants and animals in their communities and future careers.

Zoo Staff and Volunteers Introduce Ideas About Biodiversity

Forest Park Forever is proud to partner with the GTA by hosting Basecamp each year and inviting one of our park partners to lead the teens in the day’s activities.

“Forest Park provides an ideal gathering place for exploring topics relevant to the Green Teen Alliance,” says Maureen Wikete Lee, Forest Park Forever’s education director. “In the past three years, the Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum and Saint Louis Zoo have designed engaging opportunities to explore environmental topics through art, history and zoology. These experiences generate rich discussions and introduce the interns to the ongoing conservation work happening in our community.”

This year, staff and volunteers from the Saint Louis Zoo facilitated the day’s activities, which included writing, sketching and reflecting in small group conversations. Participants were asked to consider thought-provoking statements about the potential economic, medical and personal benefits of wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship.

One participant noted, “After the biodiversity activity, I realized that we have to stop thinking that people and nature are separate because they aren’t. We depend on nature, and we are part of it too.” Another said, “I learned new ideas of how to perform conservation in urban communities.”

Another activity encouraged the teens to think empathically and what it means to share their neighborhoods with local wildlife. Participants discussed, wrote and drew their thoughts, outlining ways they could encourage others to think about sharing our communities with animals.

Slowing Down, Reflecting on Nature and the Day

The afternoon wrapped up with a color-based scavenger hunt in the Nature Playscape that encouraged participants to slow down, look closely at their surroundings and appreciate the living systems and biodiversity supported by this urban green space.

At the end of the immersive Basecamp experience, members of Forest Park Forever’s education team asked participants to describe (1) something that washed over them as they listened and participated, (2) something they would like to purge from their lives or society and (3) what they wished to see in the future.

Responses ranged from the practical, “I want to plant native flora and purge plastic!” to the philosophical, “I wish for a less online/phone-obsessed culture and for more people to understand our role in the environment.”

Increasing Biodiversity by Equipping Future Leaders

As the day closed, Basecamp seemed to have fulfilled its dual purpose of teaching lessons and forging bonds. As one participant reflected, “There are many people my age just as interested as I am, just in different ways. It made me realize that everyone’s voice matters and is valuable.” Another noted, “I learned how many jobs and activities there are [working] in nature and how they can be linked and bring people together.”

With their new knowledge of conservation, biodiversity and the importance of connecting with like-minded environmental stewards, Basecamp participants were poised to bring new perspectives to their internships—and beyond. “The Green Teen Alliance provided a space for these passionate teens to make connections, see they are a part of something bigger and share their love for our natural world,” said Jeni Kobel, Forest Park Forever’s education program coordinator. “I have high hopes for a richer and greener St. Louis.”

Forever a Place for to Explore, Play, Learn

As the nonprofit conservancy that maintains Forest Park in partnership with the City of St. Louis, Forest Park Forever employs experts in education, land management, ecology, conservation, park operations, community engagement and visitor services. We’re now using our expertise to integrate long-term tornado recovery into our annual plans and the master plan for Forest Park. There’s still so much work to be done and many ways you can help!

Education, Nature, Wildlife, AwarenessTiffany Webbeducation, Nature Playscape