Term
Fall 2024
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAED: NSEE
Facilitator(s)
Jennifer Carlson
Content Expert
Jean A. King
Abstract
This capstone project aimed to create an all ages non-formal environmental education curriculum that intentionally fostered connections between Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and environmental education and between students of all cultures and the more-than-human world. Research suggested that BIPOC were underrepresented in environmental education programs because many programs were grounded in cultural narratives that overlooked BIPOC perspectives and epistemologies, an injustice known as “ontological distance.” The author’s experience as an educator at The Raptor Center suggested that ambassador raptors such as red-tailed hawks offered highly-engaging subjects for non-formal environmental education activities, particularly for lessons attempting new or unorthodox approaches. Therefore, this project framed ambassador birds of prey through BIPOC lenses to create a curriculum of learning activities in which BIPOC students of all ages could see themselves represented. The epistemologies of BIPOC cultures often featured “extrarational pedagogies,” which take more holistic approaches to learning about and knowing the more-than-human world than the often rational science-only pedagogies used in the majority of environmental education programs. Research suggested that these extrarational pedagogies – such as emotional, spiritual, intuitive, aesthetic, and creative learning – could not only increase the visibility of BIPOC in environmental education but also increase the effectiveness of conservation messaging by helping students from all cultures feel more connected to and responsible for the natural world, particularly in cities and suburbs
Project Type
Curriculum
Keywords
Curriculum, Social Justice, Environmental Education, Non-formal Education
Recommended Citation
Davis, Danial, "A Non-formal Environmental Education Curriculum Using Raptor Ambassadors to Foster Meaningful Relationships between Diverse Learners of All Ages and the More-than-human World" (2024). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 1093.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/1093
Type
text
Publisher
Hamline University
Format
application/pdf
Source
School of Education Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations at Hamline University