I am a retired Biologist, and EV gives me a chance to share my life learning while gaining much new skill and information to share. I just spent two days with 50 beautiful second graders and their outstanding teachers. Many of the children thanked me for teaching them about plants and said they know much more plants now. I could tell on our hike that they had retained much from the classroom experience. What joy!
While I love having my photography featured in the online store, the best experience is taking photos of the work in the classroom and on field trips. The kids are so absorbed in the class materials and so inquisitive in the field, and they are ably assisted by the excellent docents, who communicate their own enthusiasm and knowledge. My favorite line from a kindergarten student who was encouraged to use his five senses to observe the world:
This is one of the best organizations I've volunteered for. They provide great training. The staff is very friendly. It was a great learning experience.
It has been an absolute pleasure to be a part of the Environmental Volunteer (EV) family. The staff are knowledgeable, eager to help, fun, and accessible. I have found that all of the people associated with the EVS are down to earth and committed to their mission of teaching kids to love nature. My donation seems to go far, as volunteers are used to do the lion's share of the direct work with kids.
Seeing and hearing young children connect with their environment and realize the importance of it is gratifying. It is fun to be that volunteer and to observe this. The EV reach over 10,000 students in the San Mateo and Santa Clara School Districts each year - with volunteer docents who help them discover things about the natural world around them. To help them appreciate and understand our world so that they will become better stewards of our environment. It is a great organization and I've been happy to be a member for over 12 years.
This organization provides more high-quality services to more individuals for far fewer dollars than any nonprofit I know. Reaching out to elementary school students in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, our EV volunteers impart to youngsters an appreciation and love of nature, leading to a sense of responsibility for its stewardship, at the same time adhering to California science education standards. Through innovative classroom kits and field trips to ocean, bay, forest and neighborhood, EV is spreading the word for environmental protection.
As a volunteer and staff member of Environmental Volunteers, I have seen directly how this organization positively impacts our local children and our community. Environmental Volunteers is very effective in fulfilling their mission to promote understanding of, and responsibility for, the environment through hands-on science education. What inspired me to join the EV was their vision, that all children will learn about and be inspired by the natural world so that they become responsible stewards of the Earth. The volunteers, some of whom have spent 30 years or more with the EV, make such a difference in the lives of our local kids; and, they help our teachers who are strapped for resources for science-based education. Our children and community need these volunteers who are interested in innovative environmental science education that improves student learning.
Environmental Volunteers, a registered 501-c-3 founded in 1972, raises funds for innovative hands-on environmental education programs in the classroom and on field trips. Topics range from "all about birds" to "energy and natural resources." This 37-year-old nonprofit trains volunteers to make a difference for children at a critical stage that can help instill a love of nature and environmental stewardship. Environmental Volunteers is renovating a beloved local landmark in a local nature preserve into a new headquarters called the EcoCenter. www.EVols.org
I enjoyed watching the campers' understandings of alternative energy grow as the week progressed. The camp taught the children more about our impact on the environment.
We did many fun and exciting projects and experiments. We learned about ways to save the environment and how to use alternative energy sources.
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Positive: I liked what they taught. I liked doing the project. Negative: There was too much sun. The river smells bad. It was too hot.
It was fun and interesting. Lots of free time. It is fun to make different cars and vehicles that use alternative energy.
Pretty chill place. A good place to work. It was generally enjoyable. [written by a high school student volunteering as a counselor]
The Environmental Volunteers camp was very well run and a great educational experience for my son who is 10 years old.
Great camp. Children learned a lot of valuable info. Did fun projects. This was the first time EV had the camp for 6-8th grade kids, but it seemed very well-designed and planned.
