Adopt-an-Acre Idea’s Become a Landmark

Saving the rain forest is something we all want to get around to eventually, but it’s business as usual for Sallie Phelps’ first-grade class at Oakwood Elementary School in North Hollywood. The enterprising teacher and her young students began adopting rain forest land at $35 an acre 11 years ago through their innovative school project, and 294 acres later, the program is still going strong.

Each year, Phelps and fellow teacher Barbara Lyon, along with their students, tackle a long-term, hands-on study of the environment, in which students create tropical terrariums, conduct experiments and examine rain forest plants and products. The project concludes with a schoolwide sale of rain-forest-themed note cards designed by the 6-year-olds and printed on recycled paper. Orders for the colorful cards are filled by the kids, with all profits going to the Nature Conservancy’s Adopt-an-Acre program.

Phelps, whose original goal was to adopt one or two acres through the sale of the student stationery, has helped raise more than $10,000 since her ecology program began in 1987. She was recently asked to serve as a volunteer consultant for the Earth’s Birthday Project (EBP)--a nonprofit environmental and educational program in partnership with the Nature Conservancy--after her science study was introduced to 122 New Mexico classrooms this year. EBP plans to extend the program to elementary classrooms nationwide by 2000.

“These 6-year-olds know as much about the environment as many adults and care as deeply,” Phelps said. “They understand the benefits of saving the rain forest and its endangered species, and take pride in the small role they’ve played in ensuring its future.”

PROGRAM NOTES

Book Worms: If reading for pleasure isn’t motivation enough, teachers at Woodland Hills’ Calabash Street Elementary School are providing extra encouragement to their students through the Books and Beyond program, which rewards youngsters for reading an eye-popping number of books every year. Gold medals are handed out to kindergarten and first-grade students who read 120 books, and to second- through fifth-graders who polish off 2,400 pages before the May awards ceremony. Fifteen students have already earned their medals in the nationally recognized program.

It’s a Jungle in There: Readers who like to be transported to far-off places when they open a book got their wish recently when Liggett Street Elementary School librarian Gloria Choudry transformed the school library into a jungle. Second-graders sat entranced while they were treated to a reading of short stories about the rain forest at a party sponsored by the nonprofit literacy organization Reading Is Fundamental, which also handed out free books, book plates and bookmarks to each student at the Panorama City school.

“This program has given given books to kids who can’t always afford them,” said Assistant Principal Ellen DeLeston. “It’s created an interest in book ownership that wasn’t there before.”

EVENTS

Made for Walkin’: Louisville High School students and faculty are lacing up their athletic shoes today in preparation for their eighth annual walkathon. The trek begins at the Woodland Hills campus, continues to Warner Center Park and ends up back at the school. Proceeds will go toward school improvements.

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