Annual Report 2007: FY July 1, 2006-June 30, 2007
Youth Educational Activities Committee
The Committee will strive to increase the knowledge and appreciation of geoscience among students and teachers. The Committee plans to expand participation in the Rocks in Your Head program through increased funding from the AAPG Foundation. The Committee manages the Earth Science Teacher of the Year Award and Teachers’ Days at national and Section meetings. The Committee assists and coordinates earth science and energy programs of national youth organizations, such a Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and 4H. The committee coordinates these activities with other earth science organizations, such as AGI.
In 2007, YEA continued supporting traditional education and youth group activities while developing a new core program to enhance AAPG member support of K-12 earth science and energy education.
A new collaborative relationship with AGI promises better coordination of science enrichment efforts.
During the fiscal year, the committee met formally twice, first via teleconference in December 2006, and then at a full committee meeting during the Long Beach Annual Convention in April 2007. The committee has two vice-chairs (Laura Zahm: Education Support; Ron Hart: Youth Groups and Families) and approximately 12 more active members.
In the education support area, YEA administered another installment of Teacher of the Year (TOTY). Although only three AAPG sections nominated candidates, the winner, Ryan Henry, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an outstanding educator well deserving of recognition. Specific YEA effort will increase local and national participation in TOTY. The YEA committee also formally recognized the outstanding leadership efforts and commitment to TOTY by past chairman Don Lewis, who has stepped down after many years.
The new YEA core program will attempt to meet the enormous need for enhanced student and family understanding of earth science and energy issues by “activating” the equally large resource represented by the AAPG membership. A primary new focus is the Members’ Handbook. The intent is to create a single resource for AAPG members who want to provide earth science enrichment and outreach for students, schools, and youth groups. The new collaboration with AGI through Anne Benbow promises to add more value and streamline the handbook process.
On the minus side, the YEA committee has struggled to achieve other goals, including updating the Web site, enhancing youth group support, etc. The individuals involved cannot supply the hours required and consistent focus necessary for these and other tasks. We recognized this challenge in 2006 and applied to the Foundation for financial support of a new AAPG HQ staff position Annual Report 1763 dedicated to education support and outreach. As of early Summer 2007, the Foundation still pursues funding for this and other proposals.
Action items for 2007–2008 include:
- Completion of the Members’ Handbook, implementation as the core of a revised YEA Web site, distribution to AAPG membership, and coordination with special activities (e.g. an issue of the AAPG Explorer dedicated to science enrichment and outreach, and roll out at the annual meeting).
- Approval of a full time resource for enrichment and outreach by the AAPG Foundation, and specific qualifications determined prior to a candidate search.
- Expansion of participation in the Teacher of the Year program, beginning at the local society level and exploration of a parallel International TOTY program.
- Continued support of youth groups, especially Boy Scouts and new opportunities with Girl Scouts and other girl science programs.
- Review of other society enrichment and education programs and contacts to harvest existing resources and share effort.
- Remain focused on AAPG member needs and mechanisms to deliver exciting insights on earth science and resource issues and provide a positive view to students, families, and educators.
Bob Krantz, Chair
Committee members: Betsy Campen, Ron Hart, Bob Krantz (chair), and Laura Zahm