New environmental education program seeks to build bridges…

Armenia Tree Project has been working on a pilot program this year to introduce its environmental education material in Armenian schools throughout North America.

One of the first achievements of “Building Bridges: Connecting Diaspora Armenian Students with Their Environmental Heritage” was the publication of an English edition of ATP’s Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree training manual. The 97-page manual includes information on the importance of forests, lessons on exploring the environment, and ecological and cultural heritage.

The second major achievement has been the publication of a pilot edition of Building Bridges, a newsletter for children ages 6-12. This 8-page color newsletter was written and designed by the creators of the new Gakavig children’s publication.

“The goal is to raise the level of awareness about Armenia’s rich natural heritage and the challenges of conservation, as well as making connections between young people in Armenia and the Diaspora through environmental education,” stated Environmental Education Program Manager Alla Berberyan in a press release. “We hope this work strengthens the bonds between Armenia and the Diaspora and further engages young Armenians to become stewards of the environment.”