Photographed
& written by Te-Hsin Tsai
Taiwan
ICDF Volunteer in the Forestry Department
The
Forestry Department invited students from the Sir Ira Simmons
Secondary School joined with environmental education project to
design and make bird models for the Union Mini Zoo Interpretation Centre. The
duration of this project was 10 weeks from January to March 2012. During this
time students from the environmental club and visual art
class not only made bird models but were exposed to different environmental
issues, such as climate change, water conservation concepts, and natural
knowledge of birds and the forest. As a result, the students are now
appreciative of the natural environment.
Both teachers and students from the Sir
Ira Simmons Secondary School mentioned that making 3D bird models was
very challenging but interesting. During the making process, students studied
the pictures and information on birds to get proper descriptive features on the
models and understand their habitual behavior.
To
highlight the student’s achievements, the Forestry Department held
a grand ceremony at the Union interpretive Centre last
month. On this warm and joyful
occasion, students handed over their masterpieces and displayed them together with the officers in the
centre for everyone’s
enjoyment.
This
Environmental Education Activity was a joint venture with the program director
from Caribbean Student Environmental Alliance (Caribbean SEA)
and the volunteers from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), US Peace Corps and Taiwan International Cooperation and Development
Fund (Taiwan ICDF). From January to March 2012, these project partners together
with Forest officers have been working closely together with these students.
The
Forestry Department would like to thank the students, teachers and working
partners who invested a lot of time and effort towards the completion of this
project. Moreover, the Department welcomes visitors to the Union Interpretive
Centre any working day from 8am to 4pm to enjoy the students’ creative arts. Through
these and other activities the Forestry Department continues to meet the
challenge of educating the public of the need for the conservation and
sustainable management of our country’s natural resources.
New
idea? New Project?
If you have any good ideas
about environmental education, please contact The Forestry Department EE Unit
at 468-5645/8. Your brilliant idea might be the next great environmental
education project!
