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SEDP Class of '03:

Student Environmental Development Program

As a part of CEHN’s mission to promote environmental health education, CEHN has been the contracting organization for the Region III, EPA funded Student Environmental Development Program (SEDP) since 2002. The SEDP is a cross-cultural, community-based, summer environmental education and outreach program for rising eighth grade public school students that has run for nine years in Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE. In 2006, SEDP will be entering its fifth year in Washington, DC.

The concept of DC SEDP is to provide rising eight graders in DC Public Schools with a holistic environmental education program that allows the students to achieve a better understanding of the relationship they have to the natural and social environments. DC SEDP aims to broaden and deepen the awareness that DC inner city youth have of the interconnections in their environment through experiential learning. The program also aims to develop cultural capital among DC inner city youth by providing the students with activities that will build the skills they need to succeed in a multicultural society, including communication and leadership skills, and cultural awareness. 

The SEDP Class meets from 8:30am until 1pm five days a week from July 5-mid August. The course involves a combination of:   interactive teacher lectures, guest speakers, field projects, service learning projects, and field trips. The curriculum covers a range of topics including air and water quality, soil and land quality, lead, asthma, radon, environmental justice, nutrition, cultural awareness, and learning new communication skills. After graduation from the program, we expect DC SEDP students to be aple to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills to other academic and personal pursuits.

By providing students with hands on activities in environmental education and training in cultural awareness and leadership development, the DC SEDP aims to cultivate environmental stewards and to prepare DC youth with the tools that they need to be successful future leaders. 

The program is open to students of all economic and ethnic backgrounds.  Students must apply to SEDP.  The application process includes recommendations from a science teacher, a school official and an additional non-family member; a student questionnaire; and a current grade report.  SEDP provides students stipends and covers student transportation costs to ensure that all students can apply regardless of economic circumstances.

CEHN is interested in recruiting enthusiastic speakers to give presentations about a variety of environmental and cultural topics for this summer's program.  We are also in the process of recruiting students for SEDP 2006.  If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about the SEDP please contact Kathryn Graczyk at (202) 543-4033 X 12 or email her at:  kgraczyk@cehn.org. 

We are also asking able partners, either through their organization or as individuals, to contribute to the Student Environmental Development Program. Any amount will support our goals of educating, enlivening, and empowering DC youth! These tax- exempt contributions can be made either directly through our web-site at www.cehn.org (just specify SEDP), or via mail to:

SEDP, c/o CEHN
110 Maryland Ave. NE Suite 505
Washington, DC 20002

Thank you!