Skip to main content Skip to footer unit links
← Back to all capstone projects
2015 Autumn | Education & Outreach

Incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Contemporary Environmental Education to Foster a Greater and Earlier Environmental Ethic in Youth

Student(s):

Kiana Smith

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Kelley Govan

Partner(s):

  • Sound Salmon Solutions

Faculty advisor(s):

Eli Wheat, Program on the Environment, University of Washington

During my project, I experienced teaching outdoor environmental education curriculum to elementary students. I assisted in curriculum development and planning and facilitating education and restoration events put on by my host organization. I learned through reviewing academic literature, conducting informal interviews and distributing a survey, the importance of youth environmental education in addressing the ecological crisis as well as the potential to do so with Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). I found that TEK is a very valid form of knowledge and can provide an additional approach to the current western science model by being incorporated into contemporary environmental education.