Kupu Aʻo ʻĀina Externship

Abstract

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is a proud partner of Kupu, a local non-profit that fosters environmental stewardship among youth in Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Pacific. Since 2020, Kupu has coordinated the Aʻo ʻĀina Professional Development Program, which uses a work-based learning approach to enhance educators’ knowledge of different natural resource careers and topics. This spring, the University’s Natural Resource and Environmental Management (NREM) department is providing classroom resources on soil science and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping for the program’s cohort of seven high school educators. Our role in this project was to develop and facilitate a 3 hour workshop, scheduled for March 18th, as well as create a curated website for educators to support their efforts beyond the program. The learning objectives for the educators attending the workshop include: (1) recognize the integration of indigenous and western knowledge in soil understanding; (2) participate in a guided tour of a soil science laboratory, learning about soil health assessment equipment and techniques; (3) understand the ways GIS mapping tools can be used to interpret and analyze spatial patterns of soil properties; and (4) develop capacity to access and utilize Hawaiʻi-focused resources on soil science, GIS, and natural resource management. The project’s outcomes aim to enhance and support educators' ability to develop curriculum on soil science and GIS mapping tools, ultimately promoting environmental stewardship and a deeper connection to the land among students.