“Our human-ess is imbedded in the land.”

Ric Careless
Executive Director, BC Spaces for Nature

Smallworlds in the Schools is an environmental education program which brings the organizations and people of the Smallworlds Network straight into the classrooms. The program teaches youth not only about the world's threatened wild spaces, but uses groups from the Smallworlds Network as life examples of organizations and people working towards the protection of those spaces. This education program strives to not only convey the study of conservation but also the passion of the people involved in conservation to students.

By using fun and interactive teaching resources such as videos, slideshows, inspirational speakers, and two spunky mascot characters, Smallworlds in the Schools makes environmental education not only entertaining but applicable to life.

Providing the students with an opportunity to interconnect with Smallworlds Network members on the Community Forum, is how this program works toward creating a global community between the conservation groups and youth. On the Community Forum students can post questions or comments and speak directly with the people from the very organizations they are learning about. Smallworlds is hoping this interaction will bring students a sense of belonging, comfort and responsibility to the conservation movement as well as an appreciation and feeling of closeness to others from different parts of the world.

Smallworlds in the Schools covers subjects such as: •the fragility of ecosystems and biome regions • geography • world issues • group organization The program will initially work with elementary, junior high and high school students and will later expand to the college and university levels. Smallworlds in the Schools programs are adaptable to fit any region and can be used in conjunction with current school curriculums. If you would like Smallworlds in the Schools to visit your class please contact Smallworlds at amanda.gomm@sympatico.ca

Smallworlds Expedition:

Branching off from Smallworlds in Schools is the Smallworlds Expedition. This journey takes Smallworlds in the Schools out to take an intimate look at the colourful and heart-stirring world of six groups from the Smallworlds Network. It brings the people who, to protect their awe-inspiring lands, trek through rugged terrain, battle with behind the scenes lobbying, and take their issues to the streets and media, virtually!

The Smallworlds Expedition joins the lives of these outstanding conservation groups, each of which represent a continent and biome. The Expedition seeks to explore and unearth the way these conservation groups are formed and the methods they use as well as asking the following questions:

• How do they endure?
• What is it that makes them efficient?
•What are the similarities and differences between them?
• How do location, culture, local policies and contrasting eco regions affect the tactics
   used in their campaigns?
• Who are the people preserving the land, what is their background, and what drives
   them to work for the benefit of us all?

Smallworlds Founder Amanda Gomm, takes a fully participating role, joining their efforts in community outreach activities, hands-on field work, group meetings as well as observing their lobbying efforts while creating a documentary of both her experiences and the threatened wildscapes.

With the help of an interactive web cam, kids, youth, parents, teachers and individuals can all connect directly with the six chosen organizations, as well as Amanda. They are invited online to create and enjoy a personal experience with the local people, bringing those who are fighting for the earth's survival straight into their living rooms and/or classrooms.

The Expedition will serve as both an educational and inspirational medium to its audience. It wishes to show the strength of the grassroots by sharing its experiences in magazine articles, documentaries, and lectures for both a targeted and a general audience. It hopes to give conservation work a cultural face and help aspiring conservationists shape their dreams.