Eric Carle Meets Rachel Carson: 21st Century Environmental Literacy
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Colorado Convention Center, Room 301-303
Presenters will examine the need for outdoor education, explain how exposure to nature through play leads to exploration and discovery, engaging both the physical and mental abilities of children, and link the role of the library as a community institution to the environmental movement. Learn how to bring the outdoors inside, regardless of your location, as well as move library programming outside, further redefining library spaces and enhancing community engagement and partnerships.
At the end of this session, participants will:
1: Become knowledgeable about the significance and importance of outdoor learning relative to child development and literacy. 2: Learn how to organize a nature program indoors and/or outdoors. 3: Understand the role of the community library in the development of environmental literacy for the 21st century skill development and success.
The session organizer(s) identified this session as appropriate for:
Level 1: People with no previous knowledge of the topic.
This session will have: Medium interaction: single speaker/panel with questions or audience participation throughout
Track: Collaborate
Tags: Serving Youth, Collaboration, Partnerships, Special Needs Populations, Transforming Libraries, Youth Services
Presenters
Erin Francoeur, Director
Shasta Public Libraries, Redding, CA
Erin Francoeur, Director of Shasta Public Libraries, oversees operations of three libraries in Shasta County, Northern California. Francoeur is formerly Director of Finney County Public Library in Garden City, Kansas, where she was responsible for the development, fundraising, construction and implementation of the 10,000 sq foot Nature Explore Center outdoor addition to the library. Francoeur has a background in early childhood development, which she has put to use during her 7 years of library management.
Christie Chandler-Stahl,
Freelance Writer and Educator, Evanston, IL, , IL
Christie Chandler-Stahl worked in youth services at the Evanston Public Library, and most recently as Director of Branch Services at the Gold Leed Certified Rakow Branch of Gail Borden Public Library. There she oversaw the implementation of a native species butterfly garden, developed environmental programs such as butterfly and STEAM camps, sheep shearing and frog calls. Currently she is working as a freelance educator and writer and pursuing licensure to work in a school library.
Tracy LaStella, Coordinator for Youth Services
Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY
Tracy LaStella, Coordinator for Youth Services at Middle Country Public Library and a 2015 Library Journal Mover & Shaker, manages the department serving patrons from birth through 12th grade, coordinates grant development for youth services, and oversees the Nature Explorium, an outdoor learning environment adjacent to the library. She also organizes the MSpring Jubilee, a season opening event for the Nature Explorium, and various other collaborative events, programs, and services.
Sheila McNair, Youth Services Guide
Anythink Commerce City, Commerce City, CO