Making an Impact for KAEE - Ashley Hoffman

My first introduction in environmental education was a summer job I took working at Salmon Camp in Kodiak, AK while I was pursuing my Ecology degree. I still remember the faces on those little kiddos when they caught their first salmon—the pure excitement and love of the outdoors. You can’t find that behind a screen. That is where I learned firsthand the value of engaging future generations in significant outdoor learning experiences. As children, most of us grew up outdoors. We learned risk, discovery, imagination and autonomy through those outdoor experiences. But the upcoming generation doesn’t have that. Kids are spending less and less time outside and in free undirected play. I really worry about what this means for the future of our society if our children do not even understand basic systems such as the water cycle or where our food comes from. At the same time, funding for nature centers, parks and other organizations is being cut and there are less and less programs out there to provide these opportunities for our kids. That is why I work for KAEE and why I wholeheartedly support the work we are doing to address this deficit. I hope that you also see the value of environmental education and will support me in reaching my end of year campaign goal! Your donation would mean the world to me!