The document describes Discovery Montessori School's youth philanthropy initiative focused on environmental conservation. It discusses partnerships with organizations like the Rainforest Alliance, White Oak Conservation Center, and Jacksonville Zoo to educate students about conservation issues and fundraise for projects. These partnerships provide students opportunities to learn about conservation, connect with international students and researchers, and support causes like okapi and manatee protection through fundraising. The goal is for students to become engaged, responsible citizens through hands-on environmental learning experiences.

1. Discovering Youth Philanthropy
Through an Environmental
Conservation Lens
Kim Bednarek and Nita Hurley
Discovery Montessori School
Jacksonville Beach, Fl

2. Discovery Montessori School
Our Mission is to inspire our children to become passionate
lifelong learners and responsible world citizens, in a
challenging and nurturing academic environment firmly
rooted in Montessori principles.

3. Youth Philanthropy Initiative
Conservation & the Environment

5. Youth Philanthropy
What is it?
Youth Philanthropy is the donation of time, energy or
resources, including money, by children and youth
towards philanthropic causes. Youth philanthropy
educates young people about social change in order to
identify community problems and design the most
appropriate solutions.

6. Youth Philanthropy
What else is it?
Youth Philanthropy can also be defined as anything
young people do to make the world around them a
better place. Youth Philanthropy is, at the broadest
level, youth giving of their time, talents and treasure.
In doing so, students learn the answer to deeper
questions, such as, “What do I care about and Why?”

7. Youth Philanthropy
What is the difference between Charity and
Philanthropy?
Charity refers to the relief of suffering while
Philanthropy is the seeking out of the root causes of
social problems and solving them. Charity is for today;
philanthropy is forever.

8. Youth Philanthropy
Why at Discovery?
We hope that through both local community and global
community service, Discovery students will learn to
become Leaders and Agents of Change in their local
and global communities.

9. Discovering Philanthropy
In 2010, The Discovering Philanthropy program was
launched at DMS to provide a wonderful enrichment to
our children’s authentic Montessori experience, one
that would awaken the power we all have to make a
difference in the world.

10. Bring Youth Philanthropy to the
Classroom
Ways to integrate Youth Philanthropy into the daily classroom

11. Rainforest Alliance Curriculum
Free curriculum-
preschool through 8th
grade
Covers multiple areas
of curriculum- math,
language, geography
and culture

15. Conservation Classroom Culture
Animal journals for students
to share
Adopted species visible in the
classroom
International Art Exchange
Use technology to connect
internationally

16. Creative Connections Art Exchange
DMS Elementary students participating in an Art Exchange and
Videoconference with elementary students living in the Maya
Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala.

17. Inspiring Students to Act
By educating students about issues around the world, we
allow them to find what matters to them.
Show students they have the chance to make a difference.

18. Going beyond the classroom
Students feeding giraffes at White Students inside of a manatee rescue truck
Oak Conservation Center during a visit from the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission
Elementary students watching a manatee release

19. Engage your School Community
Ideas:
Plan festivals for school community to
celebrate your philanthropic work
Create a t-shirt design contest for
students to promote the cause
Engage parents by sending home
information letters about the work
going on in the classrooms

20. Fundraising with a Purpose
Trees for a Change-
gift cards
Endangered Species
Rainforest Alliance
Certified Chocolate

21. Partnerships 2010-2013
Mission Matching
Discovery Montessori School
The Rainforest Alliance
White Oak Conservation Center
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

22. The Rainforest Alliance
Partnership
The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure
sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business
practices and consumer behavior.
Education is a cornerstone of their philosophy and international work.
During the 2010-2011 school year students, through the Discovering
Philanthropy program, gifted $1300.00 to the Adopt-A-Rainforest
program and dedicated it to the Maya Biosphere project in
Guatemala.

23. The Rainforest Alliance
Discovery’s work with RA has culminated in regional
partnerships with the local school district. Teachers from
Discovery work side-by-side with local public school
teachers to strategize and support each other in the
implementation of the RA classroom curriculum with
fidelity.
The American Montessori Society, the Rainforest Alliance
and Discovery Montessori School are working together to
investigate a national partnership ‘plan of action’.

24. White Oak Conservation Center
The White Oak Conservation Center conserves and sustains
some of the earth’s rarest wild animals through innovative
training, research, education, breeding and field programs that
contribute to the survival of wildlife in nature.
A globally integrated conservation initiative....that has chosen
to partner with a local Montessori School for it’s inaugural
school partnership!

25. The White Oak Partnership
Organic Endangered Species Chocolate Bars, certified by the
Rainforest Alliance, was sold all year long in the DMS office
to raise capital for the Youth Philanthropy Initiative.
$1600.00 was collected and donated by Discovery to fund the
White Oak Okapi Conservation Project in the Congo.

26. Okapi Conservation Project
http://www.okapiconservation.org/
The Okapi Conservation Project is located within the Ituri Forest, in the
Democratic Republic of Congo, the most biologically diverse country in
Africa. The Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) was initiated by White
Oak in 1987 to conserve the okapi in the wild while preserving the
biological and cultural dynamics of the Ituri Forest. A flagship species, the
okapi serves as an ambassador representing the incredible diversity of
species found in the region.

27. The White Oak Partnership
Global
Elementary Field Study. Elementary students and faculty enjoyed a day of study
in the field with scientists and researchers at the prestigious White Oak
Conservation Center. As part of this day of study, students experienced an up
close encounter with the Okapi - an endangered species of rainforest giraffe, and
the focus of our philanthropic work this year.
November: Skype with The Congo! Students Skyped with lead researchers and
scientists working in the field on the Okapi Conservation Project in Africa.
November 16th: Family Endangered Species Chocolate Campaign. DMS
families purchased boxes of ES chocolates to sell to friends, family, and
coworkers just in time for the holiday season!!! All proceeds benefitted our Youth
Philanthropy Initiative.
Golden Bead Society members had a unique opportunity to visit the ultra-
exclusive White Oak Conservation Center for a private event and priority access.

28. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
The Jacksonville Zoo and Garden’s mission is to foster
understanding of the interaction of people, wildlife, and their
environment by: Creating experiences that engage our guests;
Providing fun and innovative educational opportunities; Funding
operations, expansion and programs through an entrepreneurial
spirit with public and private partnerships; Instilling passion in
the next generation as responsible stewards of the future.

29. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Conservation focus on Manatees with international educational connection to
Guyana (also connected to the Rainforest Alliance.)
Zoo educators and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
visit Discovery Montessori (DM) for kick-off event/overview of manatee
conservation in Florida and local/global initiatives and plans for the school year.
Zoo education department to schedule four field trips and educational touches
for the school-year as well as work with DM staff to create projects for students
and outline communication with students in Guyana.
Zoo visits to include behind-the-scenes encounters with elephants and the
hyrax (both distant relatives of the manatee).

30. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Students experience a manatee release (mother & calf)!
Rainforest Alliance fundraising initiatives designated to support the development
of the Zoo’s Manatee Critical Care Center.
DMS annual fundraising event to be held at the Jacksonville Zoo and
Gardens on Saturday, February 9th.
Discovery Montessori’s Annual Fund top tier to include Heart of the Zoo
Society Membership. Regular Heart of the Zoo benefits (zoo membership, VIP
reception, behind the scenes tour, etc.) plus private cocktail party and behind-the-
scenes tour exclusively for DMS annual fund top-tier contributors.

31. Discovery Montessori School
The Rainforest Alliance
White Oak Conservation Center
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
An elite environmental education experience with the
means to change the world.