Environmental Education Department
We work to prepare and inspire Hawaiʻi youth to pursue post secondary and career opportunities in natural resources. To support these efforts, Kupu’s Environmental Education Department convenes a Natural Resources Sector Partnership (NRSP); works in intermediate and high schools to provide work-based and ʻāina-based learning directly to students; provides out-of-school opportunities for 6th-12th graders; offers professional development to educators; and works in partnership to provide strategic support at the school, district, and DOE-level. We have the long-term goal of helping to build a homegrown natural resources workforce in Hawaiʻi.
Natural Resources Sector Partnership
The Natural Resources Sector Partnership (NRSP) is a collaborative effort between educators and industry to better prepare and inspire Hawaiʻiʻs students to meet the current and future demands of natural resource professions in Hawaiʻi. To guide the work of the NRSP, we convene an Advisory group composed of leaders in the NR field, representatives from the education sector, and those that have experience in other sector partnerships. We have also established an NR Educators Community of Practice to provide educators a space for sharing learning around successes, challenges, and opportunities they face as those working directly to help build Hawaiʻiʻs homegrown natural resources workforce.
Kupuʻs Environmental Education Department partners with schools to provide direct support to teachers and students, as well as strategic support at the school or complex level.
School-Based Initiatives
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION LEADERS
A year-long program that provides direct support to teachers and students based on school-identified needs. EELs engage students grades 6-12 hands-on, work-based learning activities; bring in guest speakers and expert professionals; and develop curriculum that broadens student knowledge while fostering long-term school and industry connections
STRATEGIC SUPPORT & RESOURCES
To support students and educators we offer strategies and accompanying resources to use in curriculum building, to guide career and postsecondary exploration and pursuit, to promote enrollment in NR pathways by students with varying interests and skillsets, to build alignment opportunities between high and intermediate schools, and more!
Out-Of-School Opportunities
We provide several out-of-school opportunities for 6th-12th graders (program eligibility varies). These programs include different opportunities for ʻāina-based, project-based, and work based learning, as well as college and career exploration in the natural resources sector.
Kupu provides professional development opportunities for educators to help them develop new connections, knowledge, and tools so that they can best serve their students.
HAWAIʻI YOUTH SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE
A program of Kupu and Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation, the Hawaiʻi Youth Sustainability Challenge (HYSC) is an an intiative to empower Hawaiʻi youth to create solutions to conservation and sustainability challenges in their schools and communities by providing funding, guidance, and training to 9-12th graders state-wide.
KĀKOʻO CONNECTIONS
Kākoʻo Connections supports Hawaiʻi high school students in making connections that can help them realize their college and career goals in Hawaiʻiʻs natural resources field. Students in grades 11 and 12 and recent high school graduates visit college and university campuses, connect with environmental organizations, learn and practice job readiness skills, and mālama ʻāina during fall or summer break sessions.
Professional Development for Educators
A paid professional development program for DOE educators designed to expose participants to careers in natural resources, grow connections between educators and community, increase educator knowledge of natural resource topics, and build a repository of curricula that increases student knowledge of natural resource careers and subjects.
AʻO ʻĀINA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
To learn more about our programs, contact us at (808) 735-1221 ext. 2008 or email at education@kupuhawaii.org