A Great Loss to the Environmental Education Community

We must, with very heavy hearts, report the loss of a wonderful friend and environmental educator. Ross Andrews suddenly and unexpectedly passed away on Friday, October 25th. Ross was most recently the executive director of the Center for Human-Earth Restoration (CHER), was a certified environmental educator and also served as the first director of the Walnut Creek Wetlands Center in Raleigh. He remained active with the Partners for Environmental Justice in Raleigh and had served in several other environmental education and environmental science capacities. Ross had also published scientific papers and was a published poet as well. You can view his obituary and online guest book at this link.

Please see the information below from Randy Senzig, the president of CHER, who together with Ross developed a unique program that connected adults and children to the natural world on conservation lands and other wild places around the Triangle. Ross lived his commitment to the environment and the people that live in it. He will certainly be missed by us at the office and many, many others.

January 12, 2014	Triangle Land Conservancy and the Center for Human-Earth Restoration  will host a hike on the new Walnut Hill Farm in part as a memorial to Ross Andrews on January 12, 2014 from 1 to 4 pm. See The Triangle Land Conservancy website for detail or call Randy Senzig, 919-270-9682.
January 25, 2014	The Partners for Environmental Justice, Walnut Creek Wetland Center and the Center for Human-Earth Restoration will host a memorial service for Ross Andrews at the Walnut Creek Wetland Center on January 25 from 1 to 4 pm.

  

CHER has also been using their Facebook page for updates and  information: https://www.facebook.com/CenterForHumanEarthRestoration

You may also want to sign up for CHER’s newsletter list for updates on services: http://www.centerforhuman-earthrestoration.com/subscribe-the-restoration-report.html

Alamance Partnership for Children Opens Outdoor Learning Environment

The Alamance Partnership for Children recently opened an outdoor learning environment adjacent to their office in the Historic Glencoe Mill Village. This is already an area rich in cultural history and environmental education--the office is near the Haw River, Great Bend Park and the Textile Heritage Museum. Some of the play area's structures and elements were designed to complement the culture, history and environment of the area. 

The area was designed the Natural Learning Initiative, a program of the N.C. State University’s College of Design. The project was initiated with funding from a grant from Shape NC, a partnership between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and the N.C. Partnership for Children. Shape NC is a three-year, $3-million program aimed at childhood obesity. Read the full story in the Times-News, and this pdf gives brief overview of the OLE's goals and featured. 

Natural playspaces and outdoor learning environments like this one are a growing trend and offer numerous health and academic benefits. For young children, they are also a great way to introduce environmental education and build on the essential awareness component.

Congratulations Alamance Partnership for Children on this great accomplishment!