Building Environmental Education Solutions (BEES)
Interdistrict Outreach Program (IOP)
Mission Statement:
The Building Environmental Education Solutions (BEES) Project, a collaborative
effort between Camden High School and Cherry Hill West High School, will
serve as the Interdistrict Outreach Program (IOP) by exploring the issues
surrounding a local hazardous environmental area through an interdistrict,
interdisciplinary, and multicultural approach. Students will explore the
impact of prejudice and racism on the level of community exposure to environmental
hazards and any subsequent remediation. Students from both high schools
will explore and evaluate related multicultural issues, race relations,
and their perceptions of these issues. Issues surrounding environmental
justice, the focus of Federal attention on the environmental and health
conditions in minority and low-income communities, will be investigated
because of the disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects on minority and low-income populations. Presenters, mentors, facilitators,
and corporate sponsors will be selected from a culturally diverse group
of professionals to allow the students to investigate numerous career possibilities.
Objectives of Program
Sudents enrolled in this project will be able to:
*Explore the impact of prejudice and racism on the level of community exposure
to environmental hazards and any subsequent remediation.
*Explore and evaluate related multicultural issues, race relations, and
their perceptions of these issues.
*Assess and compare the risks involved from exposure to environmental hazards
related to the community in which one lives (urban and suburban).
*Interact and collaborate with students and teachers of urban and suburban
schools in a multicultural setting.
*Apply an interdisciplinary approach to studying problems and seeking solutions.
*Utilize the process of investigative research and inquiry in problem solving.
*Use technology as a research and communication tool.
*Meet and work closely with experts and consultants in a variety of professional
fields and cultural backgrounds.
*Interact with business, government, scientific, and community leaders in
the process of investigating and solving an environmental issue and the
impact it has on a community (urban and suburban).
*Examine the interworkings of local, county, state and federal government.
*Increase public awareness of an environmental issue by the dissemination
of information through the various media (TV, radio, newspapers).
*Effect positive change in the community related to an environmental justice
issue.
