ENVIRONMENT D E S I G N Y O U R E N V I R O N M E N T S U S T A I N A B L E U R B A N I S M
ENVIRONMENTAL AMBASSADOR
PROTECT YOUR BLOCK INFLUENCE YOUR WORLD
ENVRONMENTAL AMBASSADORS www.thepearlprojectinstitute.org
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ENVIRONMENTAL AMBASSADORS
ENVIRONMENTAL AMBASSADOR
Did you know that the way we live, what we eat, and even how we use energy shapes the world around us? In this program, YOU get to explore how wind, water, plants, animals, and solar power all work together as partners in our daily lives.
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ENVIRONMENTAL AMBASSADOR
Design Your Environment: Sustainable Urbanism Your step-by-step path to becoming a Environmental Ambassador As an Environmental Ambassador, you are a leader, designer, and influencer for your community. Your role is to explore how cities and nature can work together—and then help others imagine and build better solutions for the future. What Environmental Ambassadors Do? Learn by Doing – Use hands-on, Ready-to-Go Mini-Kits to explore real environmental challenges. Design Solutions – Apply what you learn through planning, building, testing, and improving ideas. Lead with Purpose – Share your knowledge with family, friends, and community leaders. Speak Up – Use your voice to advocate for cleaner air, cleaner water, and healthier neighborhoods. Inspire Action – Show others that small ideas can create big change.
SUSTAINABLE URBANISM YOU ARE THE ROADMAP. YOU ARE THE CHANGE. DESIGN YOUR ENVIRONMENT.
Design Your Environment
YOUR STEP-BY-STEP PATH TO BECOMING AN
Through Design Your Environment, you’ll learn how small choices make a big impact—from saving energy to reimagining how our cities and neighborhoods could look in the future. Together, we’ll explore New Urbanism, a way of designing communities that celebrates history, nature, and green living.
ENVIRONMENTAL AMBASSADOR Robin McDougal
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Your Mission: By completing each challenge, you gain skills, confidence, and influence. Your final goal is to share what you’ve learned, propose real solutions, and inspire your community to care for the environment starting right where you live.
Now It Is Your Turn Design Your Environment
Energy
Green Spaces
Clean Water
Transportation
Waste
Food Production
ENERGY
WIND ENERGY KIT
DESIGN YOUR ENVIRONMENT
MODULE 1
DESIGN
INDUSTRY >
WHAT IS WIND ENERGY?
RENEWABLE ENERGY, MECHANICAL DESIGN, TURBINE ENGINEERING
Wind energy is power that comes from the movement of air. When the wind blows, it pushes the blades of a wind turbine—kind of like how blowing on a pinwheel makes it spin. As the blades spin, they turn a machine inside the turbine that creates electricity. That electricity can power homes, schools, video games, and even entire cities! Wind energy is awesome because: It’s clean (no pollution!) It never runs out It uses something we already have—the wind! So basically, wind is nature’s way of helping us make power without hurting the planet.
DETAIL >
BUILD YOUR ECO-WIND KIT
WASTE MANAGMENT
WASTE MANEGEMENT CHALLENGE
DESIGN YOUR ENVIRONMENT
MODULE 2
SCI BUZZ >
INDUSTRY >
BIOLOGY, DECOMPOSITION, CARBON CYCLES
WHAT IS COMPOSTING & WASTE REDUCTION? Composting is like recycling for food and plants! Instead of throwing away things like banana peels, apple cores, and leaves, we let them break down naturally and turn into nutrient-rich soil.
Tiny helpers—like worms, bugs, and bacteria—do the hard work. They eat the leftovers and turn them into dark, crumbly soil that helps new plants grow strong.
So think of composting as giving Earth a little snack that helps it grow!
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FORM A WASTE MANEGMENT CLUB Waste Management Club isn’t just about trash—it's about leadership, teamwork, creativity, and helping your community shine. 1) Gather Your Crew & Choose Your Mission & Give Your Club a Name recycling? composting? reducing lunch waste? community cleanups? 2) Become an Influencer: Social Media, Website 3) Use Photography & Video to Tell Your Story 4) Promote, Recruit, and Celebrate Your Impact
CLEAN WATER
CLEAN WATER MONITOR
DESIGN YOUR ENVIRONMENT
MODULE 3
SCI BUZZ >
INDUSTRY >
WHY WE NEED TO KEEP STORM DRAINS CLEAN? ORM DRAINS
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, SMART WATER IN CITIES
Storm drains are those little grates you see on the street. When it rains, water flows into them and travels straight to our rivers, lakes, and streams — without being cleaned first! So if trash like candy wrappers, bottles, or leaves block the drains, two bad things happen: 1. Flooding — Water can’t get through. 2. Pollution — Trash washes into our waterways and harms fish, animals, and even our drinking water. 3. By helping remove trash from storm drains, you’re basically a Clean Water Hero. You’re stopping pollution before it even starts and protecting the water.
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STORM DRAIN MONITORS UNITE! An action guide for protecting clean water in your neighborhood. 1) 1. Pick Your Safe Location & Get Permission: Reach out to your local Public Works or Environmental Services department to let them know about your event. They may provide gloves, safety vests, or cleanup supplies. Look for trash, leaves, or blockages 2) Post event photos on social media using a fun hashtag like #StormDrainHeroes or #CleanWaterCrew. Share your findings and photos with your city’s environmental department—they LOVE community data. 3) Thank volunteers and invite them to the next cleanup!
GREEN SPACES
GREEN SPACE DESIGNER
DESIGN YOUR ENVIRONMENT
MODULE 4
SCI BUZZ >
INDUSTRY
URBAN GARDENS
WHAT IS A GREEN SPACE?
Starting an urban green garden is like
Urban green spaces are
small space like a balcony, rooftop or a
the nature spots inside a
sunny window.
creating your own tiny nature world in the city! You don’t need a big yard—just a
city—like parks, playgrounds, gardens, and grassy areas. They’re the places where you can play, relax, breathe fresh air, or hang out with friends. These green areas help cities stay cool, give animals a place to live, and make neighborhoods healthier and happier. They even help soak up rainwater so streets don’t flood! Think of urban green spaces as the city’s way of saying:
GREEN SPACE ART & DESIGN CONTEST Inspire creativity while protecting your community’s green spaces! Create a fun hashtag like #GreenSpaceCreators or #EcoArtChallenge. Explain the environmental idea behind your artwork
“Hey, everyone needs a little nature!”
DETAILS>
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Document the process with photos and videos for sharing later Turn winning ideas into real mini-projects
GRAB YOUR SEEDS TO PLANT 1) Open Your Brown Paper Bag: Find Seed Pods & Seed Packets 2) Scoop Soil from Outside, add to container, give it sun, water daily 3) Add seeds to brown planting container and watch them grow
TRANSPORTATION
SOLAR ENERGY AMBASSDOR
DESIGN YOUR ENVIRONMENT
MODULE 5
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
INDUSTRY
CLEAN ENERGY LIKE SOLAR IS IMPORTANT
FOSSIL FUEL How Fossil Fuels Affect Earth? Fossil fuels—like coal, oil, and gas—are used to power cars, factories, and electricity. But when we burn them, they release pollution and gases into the air. These gases trap heat around the Earth causing stronger storms, melting ice, rising sea levels, Fossil fuels can also make the air and water dirty, which is bad for our health.
What Is Solar Energy? Solar energy is power that comes from the sun. Solar panels soak up sunlight and turn it into electricity, kind of like how plants use sunlight to make food. Solar panels catch sunlight and turn it into electricity. Solar energy is great for the environment because it makes power without pollution, helping keep the air clean and the Earth healthy. Benefits of Solar-Powered Cars 1. No Exhaust Pollution – so the air stays cleaner. 2. Free Fuel from the Sun – it never runs out! 3. Quieter & Cleaner Cities – Solar cars are quiet, making neighborhoods calmer and healthier.
DESIGN
BUILD YOUR SOLAR CAR KIT
EARTH DAY
DESIGN YOUR ENVIRONMENT
MODULE 6
COMMUNITY >
INDUSTRY >
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO PROTECT THE EARTH
EARTH DAY APRIL 22ND
Every project, big or small, helps protect the
Earth Day is a global
planet and inspires others to care, too.
celebration of our planet and a reminder that we all
PLAN YOUR EARTH DAY EVENT TODAY!
have the power to protect it
Earth Day is about everyone taking action, working together to make schools, neighborhoods, and communities healthier and greener. Calling all Environmental Ambassadors: You don’t have to be a scientist to help the planet. If you care, you’re already an Earth Day leader!
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ORGANIZE AN EARTH DAY EVENT These ideas are easy to plan, fun to lead, and have a high-impact.
Carrers to consider: Environmental Journalist Environmental Filmmaker Community Environmental Organizer
Community Clean-Up Day Eco-Fashion Show Water Conservation Awareness Booth Tree Adoption Project Bike, Walk, or Roll to School Day Earth Day Celebration Career Fair Clothing Recycle Workshop Urban Gardening Day