KIHEI - One hundred seventy-five students from five schools participated in the inaugural Keiki Eco-Conference that Pacific Whale Foundation hosted Feb. 19 at Kalama Park.
The students created worm-composting bins for their classrooms and model rain forests; explored solutions to Maui environmental challenges; participated in a GPS treasure hunt; and learned to measure water salinity using refractometers, build an oceanside trail and grow their own nutritious snacks.
The conference was free, with Kokua Foundation and Pacific Whale Foundation Eco-Adventures providing bus transportation.
"Environmental educators point out that the amount of time a child spends outdoors before age 11 plays a large role in determining if the child will grow up to care about the environment," said PWF Education Director Merrill Kaufman. "But as schools strive to meet the standards for math and reading imposed by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, teachers are pressured to reduce time spent on outdoor education."
Participating schools were Kamalii, Kihei and Wailuku elementary schools, Kihei Charter School and Montessori Hale O Keiki.
Planning is under way for the 2011 Keiki Eco-Conference to be held Feb. 18.
To learn more, contact Kaufman at merrill@pacificwhale.org.
