On March 18, the Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (AACCW) sponsored an environmental activities seminar for science teachers working in early childhood and middle grades in Catholic schools.

The seminar was held at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and was conducted by the National Park Service’s Geosphere Environmental Education Training Center.

The agenda was based on the results of a survey indicating teacher interest in various areas. Training areas included outdoor classroom, discovery trail, butterfly garden and habitats. Topics included rain forest, endangered species, weather, insects, forest, oceans, recycling and composting.

Evaluation forms indicated a positive response by those attending. The AACCW also plans to set up a natural habitat on the grounds of a parish this year. They also hope to establish an environmental task force within the archdiocese. Last fall the AACW received an honorable mention at their national organization’s meeting for their environmental activities based on the bishops’ pastoral statement “Renewing the Earth” and Pope John Paul II’s “The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility.”

The commended activities included a mailing encouraging a letter-writing campaign urging President Bush to play a more active role in the Environmental Summit in Brazil. The mailing also included an educational awareness effort. The group sponsored an environmental workshop which addressed environmental concerns from global, national and local perspectives.

They subsequently continued education efforts through their newsletter and suggested various projects such as tree and seed planting.