The book The Empty Pot by Demi tells a fable of a Chinese emporer who wants to find the most worthy to take his place. What does it mean to be a worthy community leader? 

Participants identify the impact of humans on lakes and rivers. They explore ways to take responsibility to protect the waterways.

Participants discuss the attributes and benefits of local water resources and ecosystems. They identify the interrelatedness of humans and the environment in the book A River Ran Wild, and discuss how the way we treat the water impacts our lives.

In this lesson, we explore where vegetables come from and how they are preserved for healthy eating. 

These activities raise awareness of the five senses and the role the senses play in making food choices. We read a book about the senses and practice using them in center activities.

The entire family is invited to a family night to assemble dried soup kits to donate to a local food pantry. They may use the dehydrated vegetables from lesson one and other ingredients or contact a food-packing organization that provides the ingredients, and you provide the volunteers.  

In this lesson, the children identify foods to eat each day and foods that should be eaten in small amounts. They learn about healthy habits and healthy communities where all people have nutritious food. 

This experiential lesson involves building the garden and inviting people to enjoy and participate.

This lesson is a reflection on the beach clean-up experience. 

With guidance from a local environmental agency, prepare the youth in advance of volunteering their time to clean up a lake or river for the common good. Arrange a field trip that includes picking up trash and recording the data.