Patricia Hillaker  Beecher Alternative Education Center Mt.
Morris, MI  Project Description:  Hillaker’s winning program,
“Project E.A.R.T.H.: Environmental Awareness Reaching Teen
Homes,” is designed to raise environmental awareness,
sustainability and promote stewardship among teens. The project
begins with students identifying a polluted or underdeveloped
piece of land in the community to transform into an outdoor
learning center, also known as “place-based learning.” “Project
E.A.R.T.H.” provides an innovative way to expand learning
opportunities to ‘at-risk’ youth while strengthening the
community, improving achievement and decreasing inner city drop-
out rates. Students will explore factors that influence
population dynamics, evaluate situations that disrupt ecosystems
and analyze the impact humans have on the environment. Students
will then plan, design and execute the project, giving them a
sense of ownership and pride that will lead to sustainability
and awareness of our environment. The program will