A typical spring day for program staff at the ERC entails a stop in the office around 8:00AM to prepare materials for the day's educational programs, checking messages, e-mails, and placing any electronic recycling we have received into the back shed. Then, staff heads in to the field for the day's programs, often not returning to the office until the next day.
People who know this about our jobs are surprised to hear that we are still busy working during the stay-at-home order. The days look and feel quite different, but at the core our work is the same -
providing environmental education opportunities to build the next generation of environmental leaders.
We have adapted and are continuing to adapt our upcoming programs. For example, we have partnered with
The Crisis Hotline to create content, print and distribute care packages with environmental education materials to 130+ families. We have dispersed virtual
Spring Exploration Series presentations made by partner organizations with accompanying educational activities each week for four consecutive weeks to 28 2nd & 3rd grade teachers in Blaine County. We have collaborated with four additional teachers to generate lessons on Earth Day, Idaho's dark skies, landfills, and reducing, reusing and recycling. It's a pleasure to support our wonderful teaching colleagues at this time. The work of inspiring creativity and curiosity never stops!
Simultaneously, ERC staff and board are developing ideas and building collaborations to ensure there are safe opportunities to attend programs or volunteer with the ERC this summer. We hope to announce these opportunities by early June.
How can you help us adapt to these changes? Choose to support the ERC during
Idaho Gives - a statewide giving period bringing awareness to Idaho's nonprofits.
Visit the ERC's
Idaho Gives
page by May 7 to donate.
~ Alisa McGowan, ERC Program Director
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