Acmetonia environmental program expands outside the school's walls

Acmetonia Elementary School student Maverick Gniewkowski was surprised when he learned there are 86,000 miles worth of rivers and streams in Pennsylvania.

“I thought there would be less than that,” said Maverick, 10.

That fact was one of 100 questions Maverick and his fourth-grade peers studied this month when preparing for the school’s sixth annual Ecostudent Challenge, where Acmetonia students learn facts relating to ecology, oceans and the Pittsburgh area.

The questions also align with new state standards.

On Wednesday, those skills were put to task as students took the test. In the meantime, students find sponsors who pledge to donate money on each question they get correct.

“They innately care about nature,” teacher and coordinator Elizabeth Newill said. “You always hear, ‘Try to make a difference,’ but how can a 10-year-old do that? This gives them that little bit to make a difference. They’re good at heart, and they care about the future.”

Over six years, the school has donated more than $35,000 to organizations like Massachusetts-based marine life advocacy group Cape Clasp, the National Aviary and Audubon Society, Newill said. She said last year students from Hampton, Armstrong and Springdale high schools also participated.

“I really like going to the (Pittsburgh) aviary, and I really wanted to help and donate money to them so they can help more birds,” said Acmetonia student Emerson Turner, 9.

The program’s been well-received at Hampton since it started last year, said David McCutcheon, a fifth grade teacher at Hampton’s Central Elementary School. About 80 students participated last year and raised about $2,000.

“I think kids get excited to show what they can do,” McCutcheon said. “My hope is they can see they can make a difference in the community around them.”

And the program has grown outside of Acmetonia’s walls. Through the years, Newill has received a number of inquiries from other school districts — as far as Ohio — to emulate the program.

“We’re not seeking that,” said Jen Vecchio, coordinator of curriculum and instruction at the Allegheny Valley School District. “It’s happening naturally and organically. We had no idea how wide this would spread.”

On April 16, Acmetonia will host an ecostudent challenge assembly. There will be representatives from American Forest Foundation and Centre Wildlife, the Audubon Society, Cape Clasp, the National Aviary, the Rachel Carson Homestead and Chatham College — alma mater of Springdale’s Rachel Carson, a world-renowned author, marine biologist and environmentalist.

“You’d have to think Rachel would be proud,” Allegheny Valley district spokeswoman Jan Zastawniak said of the Ecostudent Challenge.

The National Aviary has provided Acmetonia with bird-related questions for the Ecostudent test and hosted students for a special field trip, said Katie Manion, curator of education.

“The Ecostudent Challenge is remarkable because it gets young students to learn about the environment while also encouraging them to take action to help protect wildlife through fundraising,” Manion said. “We are also incredibly grateful to be one of the recipients of their student-run fundraiser.”

In addition, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is donating a free program to students; and Jason Bittle, a National Geographic writer, has visited in prior years to give a presentation on his work, science writing and the environment.

Chris Kubiak, education director at the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, said he looks forward to the Acmetonia assembly each April.

“We’re trying to make connections that what they do here in the Allegheny Valley can also impact water quality downstream for communities,” he said. “Having the ability to raise their awareness of the crucial resource we have here is very fulfilling.

“It’s a very worthwhile program.”

Newill hopes to grow the program in years to come. She said it’s impressive that a small school like Acmetonia can accomplish so much with the program and the connections it has forged.

“That’s an important part of our job, is creating lifelong learners and kids that care about their world around them,” Newill said.