Into the SCHOOLS for National Landscape Architecture Month (April 2013)

An Educational Outreach Activity

Hello Florida!

Please join us to make this year’s National Landscape Architecture Month (NLAM) an educational one here in Florida. This year, we are asking ASLA members across the state to step up and reach out to a local school to educate an elementary, middle school or high school class about the profession of Landscape Architecture!

As Emily O’Mahoney pointed out in last month’s newsletter, if we 600 Florida Chapter members reach out to just one classroom each we can touch 1800 students!  Imagine that touching one grade of 3 classrooms would reach 5,400 potential landscape architecture students, future clients of landscape architects or future people of power like legislators who understand the profession.  For a modest investment of our time and energy, we can influence the future of our chosen profession. How about a career day for the whole school?  Wow!

The first simple step is to contact a school, meet with the teacher and let him/her know what you want to do and then is to register to be a volunteer. This is considered a level 1 security clearance in which someone has to be present at all times.  This is the normal procedure for school districts. Some schools may even accommodate a videoconferencing presentation if both parties have access to compatible systems. So set up your career day now!  It might be for 15 minutes or 45 minutes depending on what a teacher or specific program allows. 

The Florida Chapter PR Committee has gathered and prepared some presentation materials that will be helpful for you to take and modify for these career day visits, including handouts and a simple PowerPoint. Some of these materials are specifically targeted to younger grade school children and some to middle and high school ages (see links here). You’ll also find additional information on National ASLA’s Career Discovery page at http://www.asla.org/careerdiscovery.aspx .  They have a PowerPoint and brochure which too can be modified and customized. 

So pick a school or contact a teacher that you know and reach out to set a date during this month of April.  For more fun, dual present with a friend and pick two schools!  Please keep Emily O’Mahoney, Doug Smith and your Section Chair informed of what you have set up!  Share your successes!  Go forth. Make a difference.

Emily O’Mahoney

Past President

pastpresident@flasla.org

Doug Smith

PR Chair

dsmith@edsaplan.com

Resources:

Activity Sheet (8.5 x11)

Activity Sheet (11x17)

Coloring Book

FL ASLA School Outreach PowerPoint

Could you Become a Landscape Architect Presentation

ASLA - National Landscape Architecture Month 

Landscape Architecture Presentation on Earth Day at Hawks RiseElementary School