Youth / Students

By Jody Benson

The insights and enthusiasm of the winners of the Pajarito Group’s Special
Environmental Awards for the 2012 Science Fair inspire us to remember the
joy of asking questions and seeking answers about the natural world that we love.

For the first time, the “Best of Show” went to an elementary student for her thorough inquiry into theelements that build a green energy system. Mikala Buckling examined whether windmills really are zero emissions by showing the energy and resources it takes
to build that windmill.

By Kristina Ortez de Jones, Associate Organizing Representative

New Mexico took a major step forward in connecting children with outdoors when both chambers of the New Mexico Legislature passed the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights.
The Leave No New Mexico Child Outside Coalition, made up of more than 50 organizations
across the state, and Wild Friends, a civic engagement organization for children
based out of the University of New Mexico, were actively involved in the Bill of Rights.
Written by children all over the state, the rights include:
• play outside and explore freely

Last legislative session our leaders almost did the right thing. They very nearly passed a Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, which would set the stage for connecting every New Mexico child with the outdoors. There was no real reason this bill didn’t pass, other than lack of time.

Why do we even need a Bill of Rights that gets our children moving outside?

By Kristina Ortez de Jones, Southwest Youth Representative

By the time you read this, Sierra Club delegates from the Mission Outdoors Program will already have clicked their way down the halls of Congress to let their elected leaders know the importance of protecting public lands and providing opportunities for young people, veterans and their families to connect with the outdoors.

By Kristina Ortez de Jones, Southwest Youth Representative

John Muir loved the outdoors, and when the Sierra Club was founded back in 1892, outings to special places in the Sierras inspired passion among the Club’s early members. Outings have always been a special part of the Club, and it’s been integrated with two of Sierra Club’s Youth Programs.

By Kristina Ortez de Jones, Southwest Youth Representative

What do you get when you give a kid an annual ski pass in exchange for no drama and no drugs? You get a pretty happy, healthy young person who will spend the winter skiing or snowboarding.

Hey kids - check out Scijinks, a web site with lots of informative and cool stuff

click here to visit Scijinks

Scijinks is brought to you by NASA and also NOAA

Environment Fellowship
By Iain Deason, RG Chapter intern

What does population have to do with the environment? Everything.

This and other questions were presented when a collection of national social and environmental advocates were challenged to make a change through the Global Population and Environment Fellowship Program.

Op-Ed by Kristina Ortez de Jones published in the Santa Fe New Mexican on February 14, 2011

If you grew up in New Mexico, you may remember long summer days playing along acequias or exploring the bosque. Old-timers may recollect digging for arrowheads or hiking in desert or forest landscapes.

No matter where you grew up, most of us have common memories of outdoor experiences. Unfortunately, this is not the norm for children living in modern-day New Mexico. With increased classroom hours and more time in front of a screen, fewer and fewer children are spending time outside experiencing New Mexico's natural heritage.

Sarah is a second grader in Las Cruces who is concerned enough about the effects that climate change will have on the planet that she is taking action to do something about it. Her principal agreed to let her regularly broadcast her “Green Tip of the Week” to the school about the problem and how kids can help. We think grownups can help, too, so we are pleased to introduce Sarah’s Green Tips here:

by Sarah, age 8
Hi, everyone. I’m Sarah, with your Green Tip of the Week.

Today’s green tip is Water is Life.