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A Collaborative, At-Risk Teen Intervention Program In addition to our traditional school programs, we are currently working collaboratively with three disadvantaged teen intervention programs and are in discussion with others. Their students come to our wildlife sanctuary as both community volunteers and on-site learners. The Wild Teachers for Youth program uses wildlife and environmental education, in a methodology called "Natural Systems Teaching," to complement their life skill development curriculum. Using live animals as teachers, we inspire learning, build teamwork skills, increase self-esteem, and promote self-knowledge. The on-site activities, such as building housing for the animals and sanctuary maintenance, stress the importance of doing work for the common good and teach the students that their actions do make a difference. Our At-Risk Youth Clients The teens we work with range from students who run the risk of being expelled from school to students who already have a criminal record and are working their way back into becoming productive members of society. All of the teens we work with are enrolled in special schools and we work closely with their teachers to integrate our program with their existing curriculum. Volunteering Teaches the Value of Community As volunteers for Wildlife Associates, these at-risk teens experience the value of teamwork and the many ways to positively affect their communities. Many of these kids have only had experiences of working as a team within a gang environment and have experienced dysfunctional relationships with their families and their communities. Through Wild Teachers for Youth, we actively define community with lessons that emphasize working as a team to accomplish an objective. Through their efforts, students see the positive results of their work. They learn by doing, seeing first-hand how their actions can positively affect the world around them, and experience our true appreciation for their efforts in a closing circle. Animals as Teachers The animals in the permanent care of Wildlife Associates share many of the same stories as these teens: many were abused, mistreated, unwanted, and injured. The students have an immediate recognition, empathy, respect, and interest in the animals. Drawing from indigenous cultural wisdom, we use animal archetypes as powerful metaphors to help kids build strong self-esteem, to unfold self-knowledge and to develop the courage to change self-destructive patterns. "This place has an everlasting effect on me. It has captured my heart, it makes me feel content."For 45 minutes at the start of each visit, 15 minute during lunch, and 30 minutes at the close of their volunteer-activity day, we provide interactive lessons that teach valuable life skills using wildlife and environmental education as a catalyst for their learning. These experiential lessons with animals are taught in a way that is non-threatening, readily acceptable, and easy to visualize and remember. The goal is to have students integrate these lessons into their lives where they will have meaning. "While volunteering for the Wildlife Associates, I did not only be productive, but it also took my love and appreciation for animals to another level."With animals as teachers, we create a new bridge for communication, where students learn to "listen and speak through a language older than words." "From the moment our students entered your premises, they were captivated. The message conveyed is that everything is connected."A Collaborative Effort for Best Practices As partners, the school instructors support the program to strengthen the educational impact and extend the learning. They prepare their students prior to their visit to the sanctuary, and then upon their return to school, they integrate the Wildlife Associates experience with their everyday curriculum. As one of their instructors stated after his initial visit: "Thanks for such a wonderful experience at Wildlife Associates, working with you, meeting your incredible animals, and enjoying your teaching. The students here really benefited from this powerful work."In today's society many of these kids are thrown away and forgotten only to repeat the cycles of violence and abuse that they experienced in their youth. As partners, we support and fulfill a vital role for established and effective teen intervention programs that are making a large impact on the lives of so many of our youth. These programs are essentially giving these young adults the tools to turn themselves around and transform their lives. As the students work with the animals and the animal archetypes, they begin to reflect inward. These connections with nature ground them to what has meaning in this life. This, in turn, helps them to care for and appreciate this existence, which leads to a non-destructive, community focused lifestyle. Ultimately, it teaches them to respect all living things, including their fellow humans, and perhaps most importantly, themselves. With increased funding, we plan to expand this opportunity to more at-risk youth within the Greater Bay Area. Funds will support the implementation of Wild Teachers for Youth including (1) the instructional time spent teaching the students in the program; (2) coordination with collaborative agencies, such as the Foundry School, to prepare their teachers, schedule the program, and follow-through with evaluation; and (3) facilitation of an advisory group of collaborating agencies to maintain the integrity of the program, make revisions, and expand the program to other agencies. If you are interested in supporting us in these efforts, please contact us. |
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- Adam T. Kleemeyer
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"This place has an everlasting effect on me. It has captured my heart, it makes me feel content." Adam Kleemeyer 11th grade student the Foundry School |