Santa Barbara’s Ryland King Receives Brower Youth Award for Environmental Education

Soon, colleges across America are going to have Ryland King to thank for their ability to teach their communities about sustainability.

Ryland King, a former UCSB student, will accept one of six prestigious Brower Youth Awards from the Earth Island Institute in recognition of his work in educating elementary school students about the environment. Through his program Environmental Education for the Next Generation (EENG), King has connected college students to elementary school kids, promoting environmental education and teaching on topics such as “The Importance of Bees,” “Composting” and “Water Conservation.”

Interns of EENG work free of charge for public schools throughout their area. They develop an eight week curriculum with their students, teaching them ways to better their environment and live sustainably.

But EENG doesn’t stop in the classroom. King has also developed take-home information sheets and activities for parents to complete with their children, stimulating long-term environmental change.

Through King’s efforts, EENG boasts 400 student volunteers teaching in almost 200 classrooms throughout California. King hopes that eventually, other college students will develop chapters of EENG at their home campuses, sweeping the nation with elementary school environmental education.

Please help us in congratulating Ryland King on his achievements, and be sure to spread the word about EENG!

-Taylor Micaela Davis

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