About Green Edventures

Tara Short:

Tara is the Founder and Director of Green Edventures, LLC. From exploring massive moving rivers of ice in Alaska, to ivy-covered temples in the misty Mayan forest, to the blue underwater world of the Caribbean and the Gulf of California, Tara has seen first-hand the impacts people are having on ecosystems throughout North and Central America and is driven by a passion to protect people and places through sustainable field programs for high school students, and adult learners.

In 2008 Tara created Green Edventures as a way to help students make connections to wild places and to help teachers bridge classroom concepts with real-world experience and first-hand observation in an effort to inspire students to be active environmental citizens.

"Green Edventures is different from other student adventure programs because we focus on Geo-tourism (aka eco-tourism), not nature tourism. Geo-tourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. "By supporting indigenous people, we help protect that place through them and provide a more holistic experience for our participants," says Tara.

Tara has nearly a decade of experience leading students in remote places like Alaska, the Bahamas, and Mexico, 12 years experience as an informal educator, nearly 1,000 hours of open water time as snorkeling and free-diving instructor, and holds current Red Cross Wilderness First Aid and Adult CPR certifications. Tara is a PADI Openwater Diver, Advanced Diver, Rescue Diver and has speciality certifications as Underwater Naturalist, Deep Diver, Mulit-Level Diver, and Night Diver.

Her start in informal marine science education began at the John G. Shedd Aquarium where she received the Outstanding Interpreter Award for excellence in environmental interpretation. In 2000 she worked as a Ranger Naturalist for the USDA Forest Service in Portage, Alaska.

With her heart still in Alaska, in 2001 Tara tradeded blue glaciers for pink sand to be part of Wild Studies on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. This anticipated "summer job" as Program Director turned into seven years of employment and a promotion to Assistant Director.

In 2002, Tara graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a B.S. Degree in Natural Resource Management with an emphasis in Environmental Education/Interpretation. Upon moving to the Northwoods from suburban Chicagoland she became involved with the international program Becoming an Outdoors-Woman and appeared in a National Geographic documentary called "Hunting in America" (2002).

What is Green Edventures?

Green Edventures programs are designed specifically for students that have an interest in eco-adventure, and the natural sciences including environmental science and stewardship. Each adventures has a nice balance in all areas from activities to academics to free-time. Each week is specifically developed around the interest and skill-levels of the group.

Green Edventures' programs focus around three "E" Values:

1. Education: Participants will become familiar with the native plants and animals, the physical geography of the region, and local cultures. Teens will see how their lifestyles affect local and global ecosystems, and learn tangible ways that they can make a positive difference for the environment.
2. Environmental: All of our edventures are carbon neutral and directly support indigenous people and local conservation efforts. Through first-hand observation, and informal discussion, participants will begin to understand their place in the ecological community, the implications of the current land ethic as it relates to their culture, and compare it to the values and beliefs of cultures indigenous to the region.
3. Empowerment: Participants will gain hands-on experience and service hours volunteering as citizen scientists and will experience many new outdoor skills such as kayaking, snorkeling and free-diving, or glacier trekking. Trained local or indigenous people are hired as guides, cooks, drivers and all other aspects of the program needs which in turn provide money to families for preserving their natural resources for tourism instead of consuming natural areas for one-time benefits.

Green Edventures' programs adhere to these eco-tourism principals:

1. Respect and know the characteristics of the environment and culture of the area.
2. Be efficient with natural resources such as water and electricity.
3. Minimize impact to the area by practicing leave no trace principals.
4. Stay informed about new initiatives and techniques for environmental conservation.
5. Receive proper education and training in eco-tourism for the activities practiced.
6. Employ guides and crew who know and respect the environment and local culture.
7. Purchase products from the region which support local communities.
8. Abstain altering wildlife and habitat.
9. Abstain from buying or taking endangered or threatened species
10. Comply with regulations that apply to protected areas.
11. Comply with security rules and standards
12. Provide truthful and accurate information to participants about the local environment and culture.

Green Edventures' Participants:

Green Edventures provided educational adventures for teachers and their students. Participants are either: selected by their teacher to participate in a school-based trip or are teens who participate as individuals. Individual participants are referred through a science teacher or apply directly through www.greenedventures.com. Participants come from all over the USA and Canada.

For students who are interested in a career in the science, participating in Green Edventures may give them an extra advantage compared to other candidates as they begin applying for colleges and internships. Participants will learn valuable outdoor skills and participate in real world field projects.

Although these program were designed for teens, Green Edventures does provide specialty programs for adults and college groups. Specialty programs are tailored specifically for that particular audience and are not a cookie-cutter version of the student programs. Contact Green Edvenures for upcoming specialty programs or if you would like to put together your own trip.

Tuition and Payments:

Green Edventures programs are affordable. Small deposits and interest-free monthly payment plans allow families to be able to offer our academic adventures to their teens. Payments are via PayPal or by mail. The travel agent we work with searches on your behalf to find the lowest priced fares on reliable airlines.

You are encouraged to shop around and compare tuition costs from our competitors. Please don't let the price tag fool you. Compare everything, activities, lodging, education and look for hidden costs such as daily tip requirements and membership fees. You will see that Green Edventures is unique and a program that stands above the rest.

If you would like more information about Green Edventures programs, including references please call or email us 7-days a week. We are happy to answer your question and go over any policy or procedure that you have questions about.

We know that you will have the time of your life and do more in one week than most people do in their entire lives. We look forward to meeting you. Make this summer an Edventure of a lifetime.