This webinar will introduce you to Molly Community Science, a National Science Foundation-funded initiative that aims to support the development of environmental identity among 6- to 8-year-old children from rural Alaska Native communities. The project has two goals: (1) to learn more about how children develop environmental identity (which we define as the empathy, knowledge, and skills needed to act responsibly for the environment); and (2) to co-design, with Alaska Native villages, an intergenerational community-based science program that can help nurture children’s environmental identity.
Using a co-design process, and in partnership with three Alaska Native communities: Bethel, Northway, and Hoonah, we created Molly’s Salmon Protector Camp. This two-day camp for 6- to 8-year-old children helps them learn environmental science and develop a sense of stewardship through fun, hands-on activities rooted in Alaska Native values. The camp draws inspiration from the popular PBS KIDS series MOLLY OF DENALI. Camp sessions use MOLLY OF DENALI media, including animated stories, live-action videos, and a digital app, to get kids excited about science. Children then explore related hands-on activities that integrate local, seasonally appropriate harvesting practices. The camp invites local knowledge-holders to share Indigenous ecological knowledge, Native language, traditional stories, and career experiences to bridge Indigenous and Western science.
Learning Goals / Key Takeaways:
- Learn about the Molly Community Science initiative, environmental identity development, and the co-design process we employed to produce new environmental-themed camp that bridges Indigenous and Western science knowledge and practices.
- Learn about Molly's Salmon Protector Camp and the various multimedia resources we developed.
- Hear what we learned from research and evaluation, and how findings will help inform future development.
Presenters:
- Mary Haggerty, Director of Media Engagement, GBH
- Yatibaey Evans, Creative Producer, GBH
- Stephanie McFadden, Director of Education and Engagement, AKPM
- Amelia Wilson or Rebekah Contreras, Huna Heritage Foundation
