Connecting Children to Nature

Along with help from Inside the Outdoors Foundation, Disney VoluntEARS, Anaheim Public Utilities and others, the Anaheim City School District (ACSD) hosted its 1^st Annual International Arts Festival on May 6, 2015 at Lincoln Elementary School.

The turnout and energy was phenomenal.  An estimated 2500 Anaheim City School District students, families and community members attended the afternoon and evening festivities which included an Inside the Outdoors Foundation booth providing fun and creative arts-infused science education, and a water conservation element in partnership with Anaheim Public Utilities.

The Inside the Outdoors (ITO) booth was quite a natural fit to the arts festival.  Disney VoluntEARS were on hand to help with activities, including making a water cycle bracelet by giving context to students on the stages of the water cycle with each colored bead added.

Yellow (The Sun): Creates all of the weather on Earth through the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface

Clear (Evaporation): Liquid water is heated by the sun until it rises as water vapor into the atmosphere.

Gray (Condensation): Water vapor molecules join together, becoming liquid in the form of clouds.

Blue (Precipitation): Water falling to Earth in the form of weather (including rain, sleet, hail and snow).

Brown (Groundwater): Water found beneath the Earth’s surface.

Green (Transpiration): The evaporation of water through plants. Water enters the plant through the roots, moves up into the plant and then exits through the leaves of he plant.

In addition, the ITO booth provided an environmental activity where kids created works of art featuring trees from around the world by adding thumbprint leaves onto the canvas, and learned how much rainfall those places get compared to Anaheim, CA.  The artwork will be donated to schools in the district and auctioned off to raise funds for Arts education in the schools. “From the caves of Lascaux to La Mer to Lincoln Elementary School’s thumbprint trees, art has always been a way to validate and celebrate our fascination and close relationship with the natural world”, stated by Inside the Outdoors Foundation President, Manny Kiesser.

A further budding relationship between Inside the Outdoors and the Municipal Water District of Orange County provided a food for thought activity, “Have a Drink of Hamburger”, where the community learned how much water goes into making a single hamburger – 698½ total gallons. Most didn’t consider that water is used in each step of the overall process, from raising cattle for the meat to the wheat grown to make the bun to all the fixings.

Anaheim Public Utilities provided bags and Water Wise tips and the Disney Environmental Integration team provided giveaways such as, Care for the Earth and Get Moving wristbands, Enviornmentality activity books, Get Out & Get Moving guides and a Nature’s Treasures worksheet. These materials engaged both students and families in protecting our planet.

The well organized and executed event was a wonderful celebration of students, and by students, acknowledging that ACSD heard the community’s call for more arts and environmental science education for their kids – and are doing something about it.  Dozens of youth artwork was displayed throughout the festival and nearly 350 student performers in dance and music wowed the crowds.

“We are so grateful for the continuous support of your team at Inside the Outdoors. Your presence at our most recent event was yet another great success and demonstration of your organization's commitment to building and strengthening the Anaheim community through education.  Sincere thanks!" - Linda Wagner, Superintendent, Anaheim City School District

Art and Science pairing has amazing possibilities along with a wonder-filled relationship between schools, communities and corporate agencies. Inside the Outdoors Foundation is committed to helping build partnerships and environmental stewards for tomorrow by continuing to explore creativity.