Friends of Muraviovka Park

06/14/2023

REFLECTIONS from our time
JUNE 14, 2018

RUSSIA
Good morning from Russia! As I write this, it is 3:40 am Friday and 1:40 pm Thursday in Milwaukee.

I thought I should explain why the InternationaL Crane Foundation sends teachers to Russia. The International Crane Foundation, located in Baraboo Wisconsin, provides a safe habitat for the 15 cranes species found in the world. When you think about all the birds in the world 15 species does not seem to be many. Some of these birds live in country's where they are being hunted (often illegally) as trophies or food, to the point of being endangered. That means that some of these species could disappear from the planet.

Russia is home to 7 of these birds. The Amur River (9th largest river in the world) on which the park I'm staying at resides, is a significant wetland for migration of and home to these cranes and many other wildlife. Growing up in the Midwest, this reminds me very much of the Mississippi River Valley.

As a science teacher, I feel it is my responsibility to educate my students about their role in the world and to THINK. I don't teach what to think but how to think. Think about where our food comes from, where our waste goes, options to dispose of waste, impacts of our choices on our world, consider the point of views of others, what do we have in common and how can we find a balance between our needs and survival and have the least impact on the environment, acting in a sustainable, responsible manner.

I want to bring that to the world one classroom at a time. That is why I'm here at this summer camp in RUSSIA. If I can change the way these young students perceive the world, change the way they interact with the environment, make them reconsider unsustainable practices, maybe we can save one species from disappearing from the Earth... one crane at a time... and so many others. I've seen my students change the way they do things in the states...I hope I can have the same impact here.

(SIDE NOTE: I had so much to learn from my students while at the camp. We are all like minded and want the same things for our world. I quickly became their student as much as I was there to teach. Many lessons learned. )

07/13/2019

A video of the Oriental White Storks building their nest. Images from our hike.

https://www.facebook.com/100024879635199/videos/444717316367586/

07/13/2019

We had the rare opportunity to hike out on the wet meadow (the ancient river bed of the Amur) to see the beauty contained within up close. The species there, in some cases, have not been found anywhere else. From 7 species of orchids, to unique species of willow that only grow where the ground is still frozen (in July), to the many birds that migrate through or stay to nest or the innumerable insects, including butterflies. There is just not enough space here to tell you how important this place is... Muraviovska Park.

07/02/2019

07/02/2019

07/02/2019

07/02/2019

07/02/2019

07/01/2019

FINAL PROJECT Group 1 pt2

07/01/2019

FINAL PROJECTS Group 1 pt1

07/01/2019

DAY 9 & 10: Muraviovka Park Environmental Language Camp
Theme: Crane Festival & Farewell

To be honest, I have held off on posting these two days as they were filled with so much emotion, writing this brings tears. I want to believe as a teaching team we inspired our young students as much as you can in 10 short days. However, I think we always learn as much if not more from our students.

We learn about their lives and they learn ours, we teach content and skills and they teach us the language, they ask about our students and we ask about their schools and classes; we share S'mores, stories, bug spray, social media names, glow sticks and songs around the campfire; we exchange ideas about how to make the world a better place and our young students claim new inspiration that they truly CAN make a difference and we will return to our own students in the states and attempt to inspire them too.

We came to teach but we leave this beautiful place and its beautiful people different from the people we were when we arrived. Changed because we came in hopes of making a difference and, in turn, the difference was made within us.

Dosvedanya to this amazing place that brings people together...Muraviovka Park, until we meet again.

06/29/2019

DAY 8: Muraviovka Park Russia
Environmental Language Camp

Theme: EARTH ETHIC continued

Students finalized their preparations for trial. Yesterday we watched evidence filled video about Love Canal New York, read documents of evidence pertaining to the toxic chemicals present in the canal and the people, homes and neighborhood affected by the toxins in the environment. Students played the role of attorney's, waste management, chemical companies and the citizens of the U.S. impacted by the situation.

Scripts, terminology and details were provided in English and the students took it all in and it became personal in the roles they were asked to play. The topic generated conversations about this specific situation, attempts to influence the jury were real amongst the camp meals, discussions and preparations took place around the campfire last night and today, students were in-sensed that the large companies would think they were not in some way responsible. This came to a head when students were given the opportunity to ask a question of the court or make a statement at the end.

The top it all off, students were able to make connections to other environmental court cases around the world and in their own country and discuss it.

I can't think of anything more rewarding than when your students not only understand the project or assignment but when you witness them applying it to other areas of real life that you didn't introduce.