1. education
2. school

What is DC EnvironMentors?
Founded in 1992 as an environment-based mentoring program, EnvironMentors envisions
young adult leaders from all cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds becoming active
stewards of their communities and the environment. By creating a bridge that encourages
underserved urban youth to explore environmental education in college we open potential
pathways for them to move toward successful environmental careers.
Over the course of the school year, students work with mentors to develop rigorous
environmental science projects based on relevant environmental circumstances in their
communities. Upon completion of their chosen research projects, they develop lesson plans
and present to an elementary school class, at local science fairs, as well as at the annual
EnvironMentors Science Fair where they have a chance to compete for college scholarships.
During the 2011-2012 school year the DC EnvironMentors class will serve students from five different high schools:
Wilson Senior High School, Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School, School Without Walls, Cardozo
Senior High School and H.D. Woodson.
•
Wilson Senior High School
A diverse school currently located in Tenley Town. The
students we work with at Wilson are all on the
Environmental Track in the Math, Science and
Engineering Academy. This allows EnvironMentors
students to reinforce their studies in previous
environmental science courses.
•
Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter
School
A law-based charter school located in Anacostia. We
work with the Green Club to select motivated students
to further their interest in the environment.
•
School Without Walls
A diverse population of highly motivated students
located in the center of George Washington University
campus. It is one of two competitive schools in the district. Many students will be returning students, using
EnvironMentors as their Senior thesis project.
DC EnvironMentors | 1101 17th ST NW, Suite 250 | Washington, DC 20036| www.environmentors.org
•
Cardozo Senior High School
A historic school situated in Columbia Heights, overlooking the city. Cardozo is
working with EnvironMentors to get their students ready for the city-wide DC Intel
Science Fair and to supplement their Environmental Science course.
•
H.D. Woodson Senior High School
H.D Woodson in southeast DC on Benning Road. H.D. Woodson's recent standardized
testing scores have shown a decrease in math skills, and as a result, the school has
implemented a comprehensive school improvement plan into which EnvironMentors
has already begun to be integrated.
Who are our mentors?
Our mentors are primarily university students and young professionals in environmental professions who come from a range of
organizations, agencies, and universities, including: George Washington, American, Howard Universities; NOAA, EPA, Natural
Resource Defense Council, National
Academies of Sciences, Defenders of Wildlife.
The DC EnvironMentors Mentoring base gathers
monthly for Mentor Happy Hours, which is a
prime time to network and discuss the program
with other mentors. Mentors are not required
to have an environmental or science degree,
but they must have a passion for working with
young people and sharing their love of the
environment.
What role do mentors play?
First and foremost, we want mentors and students to develop a relationship where they
can share aspects of your academic, work, and personal lives. Generally, student-mentor
pairs meet about once a week for an hour or more to discuss the progress of the project,
events at school, or anything else exciting going on in their lives. We want the program
to be FUN. We encourage pairs to meet for hikes, lunch, or city events to develop a
stronger and more valuable relationship.
Second, we ask mentors to work with their student protégés to develop an
environmental research project on a topic of the student’s choosing over the course of
the school year. EnvironMentors supports this part of the program with a mentor
manual, skills workshops, weekly meetings of EnvironMentors staff with students in
their science classes, and regular e-mail and phone communications between
EnvironMentors staff and mentors.
Finally, we ask mentors to encourage their students to continue to think about college,
and in particular, majors and careers in science and environmental fields. Many of
these students do not come from families of college graduates, so they need outside
support in considering and applying to college. Feel free to share your college
experiences with your student, or bring them to your office for a work visit.
For more information about our program, please contact Jacklyn Krisch,
DC EnvironMentors Director at 202-207-0017 or [email protected]
DC EnvironMentors Program Calendar School Year 2011-2012
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22 First Day of School for
Students
5
Labor Day
20 Orientation @ MLK
Library
27 Field Trip to Smithsonian
Environmental Research
Center (9:30am-2:30pm)
3
Mentee/Mentor Training
@MLK Library
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Columbus Day
16 Kick Off Event Field TripGreat Falls Park (1:00-3:00pm)
1
New Year’s Day
3
Student Mentor Meeting
12 Field Trip to NASA
Goddard
16
M.L. King Jr. Day
21 Student- Dean
Networking Reception
23 Student Mentor Meeting/
Experimental Design Workshop
7
Student Mentor
Meeting/ Experimental Design
Due @ MLK Library
16
Field Trip to NIH
Research Lab
20
Presidents Day
27
Student Mentor
Meeting/ College Awareness
Workshop @MLK Library
5
Student Mentor Meeting/
GIS Training workshop
19
Student Mentor
Meeting/ Environmental
Career Panel
24 Student- Mentor
Meeting/ Environmental
Issues Panel/ Mind Mapping
@MLK Library (2 hours)
7
Student Mentor MeetingProject Topic Form @MLK
Library
11
Veterans Day
21 Student Mentor MeetingScientific Writing Workshop @
MLK Library
24- 25 Thanksgiving Break
2-9 Spring Break
10 Student Mentor Meeting/
Data Analysis Workshop
24 Student Mentor Meeting/
Final Research Paper
30
Student Mentor
Meeting/ Poster Presentation
Workshop
1
University Library Trip/
Professional Resources
Workshop
5
Student-Mentor
Meeting/ Background
Research
19 Student-Mentor
Meeting/ Background
Research Due
22-30 Winter Break/ Shadow
Your Mentor Day
1
Student Mentor Meeting/
Presentation Preparation
9
DC EnvironMentors Fair
and Awards Ceremony
24 Elementary School
Presentations
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Memorial Day
JANUARY 2012
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