RUFit4Biodiversity


 * RUfit4Biodiversity **
 * What is Service Learning? **

"Service-Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities." -National Service Learning Clearinghouse

"It is a method of encouraging student learning and development through active participation in thought- fully organized service that is conducted in, and meets the needs of, a community." -United States Environmental Protection Agency

"Service-learning is a learning experience that combines service with the community with structured preparation and reflection opportunities." -Carlson Leadership and Public Service Shelter

Making a difference isn't hard at all. Its actually the little actions that make a difference. Just imagine if each person in the world took shorter showers, or turned off the light when they leave their room. Just imagine what a difference that would make. If your really interested a difference, join a local organization. You can also help your school get involved in service learning activities to help the environment and community. There are also major world organizations that help the environment. Amongst some of these are:
 * How Can You Make a Difference? **


 * [|Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] (IPCC)
 * [|United Nations Environment Programme] (UNEP)
 * [|Earth System Governance Project]
 * [|Global Environment Facility] (GEF)
 * [|Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora] (CITES)

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">You'd be surprised how many companies have programs that help the environment. Many of them will use celebrities so that their PSAs (Public Service Announcements) will be heard and the message will get across. One of these companies is disney, who amongst their many programs have one called [|friends for change]. This program reaches out kids and teenagers, because they are the future, and they are the ones who have to make a difference. media type="youtube" key="Fo1XrUkdHCM" height="315" width="420" align="center"


 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Foto Album: **



<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">We, the Lincoln School 9th graders, did our Service Learning hours in Monteverde. I was not able to attend the activity, however I did get the hours done by completing another project. What my classmates did was plant Live Fences. These are types of biological corridors. They are fences that allow the species to transition form place to place, however they are made entirely out of "live" materials (shrubs, trees, etc.).
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Service Learning Experience (Carolina Monestel): **

I had never been really interested in biodiversity. At home we recycle, and I tried to be eco-friendly, but i was never really aware of why I was doing what I did. I was never really sure why throwing a can in a recycling bin rather than a trash can would make a difference. I understood that it would be recycling and that recycling is good, but I wasn't really even sure why. I tried to be eco-friendly, but just to follow the trend of being so. I know now and understand everything that the term biodiversity implies. Understanding biodiversity and really learning about it changed my perspective on this. I can now say with certainty that I am eco-friendly. I know what the term implies and I really do want to make a difference. In a way, I feel sympathy and compassion for the earth now. I can truly say I am "Fit 4 Earth".
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">[[image:plastic-bottle-recycling.jpg align="left"]]How Has Understanding Biodiversity Changed Me? (Carolina Monestel): **

The 9th grade Lincoln School students,performed their community service hours in Monteverde. I didn't attend this community service activity, but my hours where performed in another organization. The 9th grade students, created a part of a biological corridor, instead of using dead wood, they basically planted trees so the biological corridor would evolve and become part of the ecosystem. The corridor is made out of living materials such as these trees.
 * Service Learning Experience (Sofia Soley): **

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome or an entire planet. It is the measure of health of an ecosystem. Understanding biodiversity has helped me learn how to help improve the health of an ecosystem. Habitats and ecosystems are deteriorating on earth and by understanding biodiversity one understands how improve the ways to help save it.
 * How Has Understanding Biodiversity Change Me? (Sofia Soley): **

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">For our service learning project 2012, we had a couple projects done in Monteverde. We were divided into two groups at the beginning of the day. My group went to the “Living Fence” project first. Here, the 9 girls in my group and I, planted 98 trees at a fence that will later grow into a biological corridor. On the second day of service learning, we went to the forest and collected seeds from a certain species of native tree. This will help conserve the native species of plants as well as animals who eat these plants. After collecting the seeds, we filled plastic bags for nursing plants with dirt. We later helped remove weeds and parasitic plants found in the plants located at the plant nursery. This will help conserve species and make a better place to live for future generations.
 * Service Learning Experience (Isabella Herdocia): **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Biodiversity o <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> is the totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region. It includes every living organism from the smallest plant to the largest animal in the region. Learning about biodiversity changed me because now I know that we must take care of biodiversity if we don't want to loose it. I have become aware of the fact that we, humans, are destroying biodiversity all over the planet. We depend on biodiversity not only for economic purposes, but for our survival. Therefore, it is cruitial for our style of life. Understanding biodiversity has made me aware of reducing my carbon footprint to contribute to saving biodiversity throughout the globe. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">How Has Understanding Biodiversity Change Me? (Isabella Herdocia): **

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">This year, for my service learning hours, I went to a garage sale. This garage sale took place in Lincoln School. The purpose was to collect books, cloth and accessories to sell them to people who need it. We sold the majority of the stuff collected and made people happy.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Service learning experience (Marianne Prada): **


 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">How Has Understanding Biodiversity Changed Me? (Marianne Prada): **

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Not only did we earned money, but we helped people. This changed me as a person because if someday I need help and I am helping people right now,I know they will help. Why conserving accessories that you no longer use? Or either cloth who you can’t wear? It’s better to give it to people who you know will take advantage of it.