TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2012 /CNW/ - TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) announced their commitment to help Earth Rangers bring a new Classroom Visit Program into 300 classrooms across Ontario.
Building on the success of their School Assembly Program, Earth Rangers has launched this unique classroom visit initiative to further enhance student learning and meet environmental science curriculum requirements for grade 4 to 6 students.
Earth Rangers designed the program in collaboration with leading institutions including the Toronto Zoo, Vancouver Aquarium and Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).
Earth Rangers' classroom visits are a follow-up to their school assembly program, enabling Earth Rangers' Wildlife Biologists to delve deeper into specific subjects like invasive species, species reintroduction and water conservation.
Quotes:
"TD FEF has been a longstanding partner of Earth Rangers' in-school education programs and this latest commitment is a continuation of their support in helping us educate children about biodiversity loss and inspire them to Bring Back the Wild. Each year we reach over one million children through our programs and website. This generous commitment will enable us to bring our new Classroom Visit Program into even more classrooms across Ontario," says Peter Kendall, Earth Rangers' Executive Director. "Thanks to TD FEF, Earth Rangers, the Vancouver Aquarium, Toronto Zoo and Royal Ontario Museum are all working together to empower the next generation of environmental stewards."
"Cultivating the next generation to become good stewards of our environment is critical to the conservation of aquatic life," says Dolf DeJong, Vancouver Aquarium's Vice President of Conservation and Education. "As part of its commitment to this goal, the Vancouver Aquarium is a proud partner of Earth Rangers' Classroom Visit Program, which includes the Aquarium's water conservation curriculum."
"The Toronto Zoo is part of this important outreach program with Earth Rangers to get the message out to schools," said Dr. William Rapley, Executive Director of Conservation, Education & Wildlife, Toronto Zoo. "Zoos and aquariums in Canada are contributing significantly to endangered and threatened species programs. These include captive breeding, reintroduction, field studies, habitat protection, and stewardship."
"An excellent way to engage communities is to build relationships with the schools and students that form their foundation," says Dave Ireland, Managing Director at the ROM, "The ROM is proud to partner with Earth Rangers to connect with students and provide valuable, rigorous, trusted and needed, environmental education."
Quick Facts:
Learn More:
About TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
Since 1990, TD FEF has provided more than $60 million in funding to more than 20,000 environmental projects across Canada. In 2011, TD FEF provided more than $3.6 million in support of 1,058 projects. Thousands of donors give to TD FEF on a monthly basis and TD Bank Group contributes in excess of $1 million annually. TD also covers the management costs of running TD FEF, which guarantees 100 per cent of every dollar donated goes directly to funding environmental projects and programs. For more information on how to donate, visit www.tdfef.com
About Earth Rangers
Earth Rangers is the kids' conservation organization. Earth Rangers is focused on communicating a positive, science-based message to children on the importance of protecting biodiversity. Through programs including a children's website - www.earthrangers.com, a national television presence on YTV and a national School Outreach Program featuring live Animal Ambassadors, Earth Rangers is able to reach, inspire and enable millions of children each year to take action to help ensure the lasting survival of species in Canada.
Bring Back the Wild is Earth Rangers' kid-powered conservation program designed to help protect endangered animals in Canada by raising funds to purchase, restore and protect their wild habitats.
"Like us" on facebook: facebook.com/bringbackthewild
Follow us on Twitter: @EarthRangers
www.earthrangers.com (children's site)
www.earthrangers.org (corporate site)
About the Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium is a non-profit society dedicated to the conservation of aquatic life. For more information go to www.vanaqua.org
About Toronto Zoo Education
Toronto Zoo will engage communities by providing the tools and knowledge to connect to nature and protect our natural world. For more information go to www.torontozoo.com
About Royal Ontario Museum Education
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is one of Canada's largest extra-curricular educators. In 2012, over 140,000 students visited the Museum through the ROM's School Visits Program. The ROM collaborates with school boards and others in developing curriculum in culture and nature.
For 24-hour information on the ROM in English and French, please call 416.586.8000 or visit www.rom.on.ca
Image with caption: "Earth Rangers celebrates the launch of their new Classroom Visit Program with the Vancouver Aquarium, Toronto Zoo, Royal Ontario Museum and students from Ryerson Community School. The program is generously supported by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. (CNW Group/Earth Rangers)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121022_C8576_PHOTO_EN_19632.jpg
SOURCE: Earth Rangers
Amy Cross
Media Relations, Earth Rangers
Phone: 905-417-3447 ext. 2229
E-mail: [email protected]
Share this article