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Welcome to Environmental Education with the CYO!
Program Overview | Teachers | Parents
About Our Program
The Catholic Youth Organization provides a residential outdoor environmental education experience for elementary and middle school students through the use of hands-on, exploratory, investigative, and interdisciplinary teaching methods which are rooted in Catholic social teaching and stewardship. Since 1991 the EE program has used CYO Camp Hamilton, a 570 acre site near Monroe, WA.
CYO Environmental Education Program from Catholic Youth Ministry Seattle on Vimeo.
Program Goals
Students participating in the CYO Environmental Education program will:
- Explore and learn about their relationship with God’s creation while developing scientific investigation and critical thinking skills.
- Increase their understanding of environmental science concepts.
- Gain a deeper sense of Catholic community, respect for diversity and participate in cooperative group living and problem solving.
- Develop an understanding of conservation strategies, the need for stewardship and the moral obligation of Catholics to care for creation and the common good.
- Experience personal, communal, and spiritual growth.
- Be instilled with a sense of appreciation for God’s creation.
Rooted in Catholic Teaching
CYO’s Environmental Education program teaches students that the Earth is a gift from God, and as stewards of this gift, we must work to conserve it. The curriculum is interwoven with science and principles of Catholic teaching. It has been reviewed by Seattle Archdiocesan Catholic Schools department to ensure we are meeting the current needs of area Catholic schools. While at camp students will experience faith community-building through prayer and reflection. Faith-based values are incorporated into all facets of our program, focusing on the study of four separate communities: Forest, Water, Wildlife, and Faith.
Forest Community
During the Forest Community field studies, students get to explore the incredible diversity of the Pacific Northwest forest ecosystem. Through guided exploration students will gain a deeper understanding of how plants, animals, and humans connected in this community. Students will develop an awareness of the patterns, structures and functions as well as God’s design in a forest community. They will gain knowledge about life cycles, interrelationships and forest stewardship strategies.
Water Community
The Water Community field studies gives students the opportunity to learn about divisions of the water cycle, what a watershed is and how our actions as humans can affect water quality. Lessons are devoted to direct observation and use of scientific equipment to study a pond onsite. Students will be able to describe and define a wetland community and identify common plants associated with wetland areas. In addition they will articulate that clean water is a right of all humans.
Wildlife Community
The Wildlife Community field study covers the topics of adaptation and habitat. Students will learn that in order to survive, all creatures need a habitat that consists of the same basic components. They will have the opportunity to explore a variety of animal signs at Camp Hamilton. Students will learn hands-on the adaptations which allow animals to fill a particular niche or survive in a particular habitat.
Faith Community
During the Faith Community field studies, students participate in non-competitive initiative activities that focus on communication, benefits of teamwork and presence of the Holy Spirit in others. Students will learn the value of treating others with respect and dignity, and accept personal responsibility for contributing to the group living environment.
One Body, In Christ
In addition to the academic focus of the Environmental Education program, students live in an environment that promotes a sense of self-worth and confidence, as well as respect for the rights and needs of others. We schedule schools from different regions, socio-economic status, and ethnic backgrounds together and facilitate positive interactions, generating awareness of commonalities between diverse groups of people while appreciating differences. Students leave with a heightened awareness of their connection to the larger Catholic Church.
Core Content
Our lesson content draws on information from a variety of sciences to give students the broadest possible understanding of the environment and their relationship to it. Our program is founded on four core content elements, each are reinforced through multiple lessons. The curriculum is aligned with the Archdiocesan Learning Expectations and Benchmarks, the OSPI Essential Academic Learning Requirements and Grade Level Expectations, and the Framework for Environmental Education Guidelines produced by the Washington State Office for Environmental Education. For more specifics, see our Curriculum Overview.
For more information about our programming and availablity contact:
Sarah Naser
Asst. Director of E.E. and Challenge Learning
206-274-3118
sarah.naser@seattlearch.org
cyo@seattlearch.org | 206.382.4591 | 710 9th Ave Seattle WA 98104 | Sign up for our Email Newsletter | Directions to camp