The Watershed Acodcmy
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Wetlands - Reconnecting Youth  with Nature
                 Thursday, May 28, 2009
Eastern: l:00p.m.-3:00p.m.
       Central: 12:00p.m.- 2:00p.m.
                                    Two-hour audio Web broadcast
Mountain: ll:00a.m.-l:00p.m.     Pacific: 10:00a.m.-12:00p.m.
A Watershed Academy Webcast
         As more Americans dwell in cities and suburbs, our society has become increasingly
         distanced from the natural world. More sedentary lifestyles, a reliance on electronic
         devices for creative play and entertainment, more structured "free-time" and less
         opportunity to explore outside have only added to this separation for children. The
         absence of everyday connections with nature can have a very negative effect - if
our youth don't have meaningful experiences with nature, how will they come to care for and
appreciate it and spearhead the next generation of environmental stewardship? Join us for a
special American Wetlands Month Webcast as we explore this issue, hear from distinguished
speakers about their efforts to change these trends, and discuss the unique role wetlands can
play in reconnecting young people with nature.

Instructors:
Richard Louv, is Chairman of the Children & Nature Network and the author of seven books,
including his most recent, "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit
Disorder." His work has stimulated an international conversation about the future relationship
between children and nature and spawned a movement to connect children with nature. He is a
recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal and also serves as honorary co-chair of The National Forum
on Children and Nature, which funds programs around the country designed to get kids outside. He
has appeared on the "CBS Morning Show," "Good Morning America," the "Today Show," "CBS
Evening News," "NBC Nightly News," NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and many other programs to
discuss his work.
                 Suzanne Pittenger-Slear, President and CEO of Environmental Concern Inc., a 501(c)(3) public non-
                 profit, located in St. Michaels, MD. Environmental Concern is dedicated to the stewardship of wetlands
                 with the goal of improving water quality and enhancing native habitat. Her work is focused on wetland
                 education and outreach; with specific attention paid to the benefits of a living shoreline. She is also the
                 Chair of the US National Ramsar Committee, and represented the Committee at the 10th Conference of
                 the Parties in South Korea in 2008. She is currently developing the Ramsar National Communication,
                 Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA) Plan.

Davon Kenneth Johnson, is in his second term with Earth Conservation Corps, a non-profit organization in Washington, DC
that uses leadership development and environmental stewardship to help empower disadvantaged youth to reclaim the
Anacostia River, their communities and their lives. A native of Washington, DC,  Davon graduated in the top of his class from
Dunbar SHS before joining Earth Conservation Corps in 2008. He started out in their Raptor Program where he learned
about raptors native to the Anacostia River watershed.

The Watershed Academy
The Watershed Academy is a focal point in EPA's Office of Water for providing training and information on implementing
watershed approaches. The Academy sponsors live classroom training and online distance learning modules through the
Watershed Academy Web at www.epa.gov/watertrain. For more information, visit www.epa.qov/watershedacademy.

Registration
You must register in advance to attend this Webcast. Register at the Watershed Academy Webcast Web site at
www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts. Note: The Watershed Academy is using a NEW Webcast vendor, and your computer
must have the capability of playing sound in order to attend this Webcast. To view archived Webcasts, go to
www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademv/webcasts/archives.html

Questions? Please contact Amber Marriot at amber.marriott@tetratech.com .
The materials in this Webcast have been reviewed by EPA staff for technical accuracy. However, the views of the speakers and the
speakers organizations are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of EPA. Mention of commercial enterprises, products, or
publications does not mean that EPA endorses them.

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