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