The Big Finale...

Tomorrow students reveal their plans for the future of their Earth Tomorrow Clubs, but earlier in the week I and the mentors talked about the weeks and what we expected...

Edet Unanaowo

Georgia State University recent graduate

The week so far has been very informative and exciting for me. I have gained interest in the type of life styles and issues that we have in the United States and in the world. So far I have been inspired to grow my own garden when I am able to obtain a place where I can call my own. Although I am not pursuing a career in the environmental field but I would like to play my own part for our world by going green and using my right to vote for policies that support environmental justice because it is everyone’s right to enjoy the world and we have the right to fight to keep the world, as beautiful as it is, to stay beautiful like God made it and to not destroy the beauty that many would wish to see for themselves one day. I look forward to learning more about my local area and contribute my own part for the beauty of our world.

Alyssa Combs

Senior at Georgia State University majoring in Geography

                The beginning of my week at the Earth Tomorrow Institute has been filled with new, modified, and astounding information and expectations. Even though I am a peer mentor, I feel like a student and discovering so much information that I vaguely knew about and others that I didn’t know at all. I have been reminded about what our goal is as Earth Tomorrow, why it is so important to get people of color outdoors, and revamped to the cause and mission for a future that is more sustainable and fair for all. I also really enjoyed learning about the local and organic gardens. I knew that being organic was healthier for the human body but I didn’t understand the importance of interaction between the people in the neighborhood and how these meetings help to build a stronger community. I am very interested in growing my own garden as well as composting so that I can have the security that the food I prepare for my family will be healthy for the future ahead.

James Blackburn II,

Incoming freshman at North Carolina A&T State University

                The first day I would have to say was an allover success the kids have been very active and knowledgeable and my take on them is that the involvement is awesome. And as though I am a peer mentor and have experienced the same things as before I know that there is more to know. My overall outlook for the week is in the simplest terms busy. I will be coming more in the tail end of the day and meetings helping organize the next day’s activities because of my internship with the Atlanta Bar Association but it shows that the moral and cultivating of the young minds in this institute is that important to me that any little bit I am able to help I will. But I hope that all of the student’s outlook on how to change their environment and community will drastically change and make them trailblazers in the world for tomorrow.

Naama Johnson

Incoming freshman at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

As a new peer mentor this year for the Earth Tomorrow 2012 Summer Institute I would say so far the students have been very proactive, enthusiastic and open-minded. My hope is for all the students to leave the camp as I did last year, ready and eager to be more involved and active in the community and ready to help contribute to an ET club at their school or start one. My expectations for the students is to let this  program be the foundation for the start of a new beginning, I hope each students leaves Earth Tomorrow Summer Institute 2012 learning something new about the Atlanta community and for them to make the connections needed to help them  further their aspirations and goals in their community.

Lyndon B Habersham Jr.

Junior at Fort Valley State University

I have enjoyed the new additions to the program as far as going to an organic farm or going to the farmers market. I enjoy having the chance to come back as a mentor and experience something new. When I was a student attending the program I was eager to learn what I could and enhance my own Earth Tomorrow program at my high school at the time, Frederick Douglass High School. Since my graduation in 2009 I’ve been happy to see that the club has not disbanded but has remained strong and hopefully, despite the recent graduation of my successor, the club continues to flourish under new management. I myself am currently looking for a way to bring the Earth Tomorrow Club to the collegiate level at my college. Once there I plan to ensure its stability and take what I’ve learned from the summer institute and earth tomorrow to further develop the organization.

Melissa Vega

Georgia Perimeter College

As the week has been developing, I have enjoyed every activity we have done. I am extremely excited to be a mentor once again this year. Being a part of students’ experience at the institute is a great honor. The Earth Tomorrow Institute has been a life changer for myself and has opened doors for me any many directions. In other words, I hope that the students attending the Earth Tomorrow Institute gain the motivation and inspiration I have obtained from the program.  

Victor Le

Georgia Piedmont technical college

Since this week has been passing, I’m always very ecstatic to be a peer mentor again this summer. I’m always looking forward to help out NWF and Mrs. Na’Taki. Helping out the students is a great pleasure of mine because the experiences help me to grow as a person. While the experience of being a peer mentor is fun as always, the earth tomorrow institute has opened up many opportunities for me.  Like when the students asked for my help I tried to the best of my ability to assist them to with anything, answering their questions and checking their assignment.  

Ari Holt

Kennesaw State University

I became involved in the Earth Tomorrow Program as a rising high school junior during the summer institute. I initially had no idea what the program was really about or what would be required. The summer institute was my first opportunity to camp out and I absolutely loved it! I also learned important things about the environment that I was shocked I never learned in school. I also made friends with other Earth Tomorrow students from mine own school that I had never met. Earth Tomorrow was the first experience I had that led me to become a more conscious person. Since that first summer, I have worked with NWF and Earth Tomorrow during the year and six of the seven the summers since then. I hope my participation those weeks and particularly this week, has helped the students to be inspired to enjoy their surroundings more and work hard to protect it.

But the fun doesn't end here in just one week from Saturday on June the 23rd the Outdoor Activity Center will be hosting its 2nd annual Great American Backyard camp out for families who want to experience the thrill of being in the outdoors. I personally will be there and will be making interviews for families!

The Great outdoors and College Fairs

On Wednesday students traveled to Panola Mountain State Park to become ones with wilderness. Once there they were able to experience Fishing, Tree Climbing, and Archery. A couple students even managed to  catch fish, reach new heights, and land targets right on the spot!

Once the fun festivities died down we chowed down on some grilled burgers and dogs then listened to a presenter from REI on "Leave No Trace". Students learned about leaving nothing but a foot print and leaving nature untouched. REI was also nice enough to provide us with tents and sleeping bags and then it was 'Tent Pitching' time!!

So I managed to sit with 3 first time participant to the Summer Institute, Angelena Johnson, Michela Hizine and Simon and see what she liked or didn't like about camping, here's what she had to say...

Were you excited to be going camping? 

" Well yeah I was really excited to go because it was my first time going and it was a new experience . "-Angelena Johnson

Which of the three activities did you enjoy the during the day and why?

" Mostly I liked fishing because the water was really serene. It was calming and relaxing, plus I was able to catch a couple of minnows "-Angelena Johnson

Would you ever go camping again on your own?

" Based on the experience I had I would consider going camping again because it was really invigorating and opened my eyes to new possibilities. "-Angelena Johnson

How did you feel about your experience outdoors?

" Well i felt it to be a new exp at first i thought that I would enjoy it but after a while it became quite intriguing and i began to enjoy it with the exception to the ticks. "-Michela Hizine


Have you ever been or thought about going camping before why?

" No not at all. I never really thought I was much the camping type. "-Michela Hizine

Do you think this an experience you'd do again?

I" i think I'd try the mountain climbing and the hiking again, but the camping was just not for me."-Michela Hizine

What didn't you like about camping?

" What i didn't like about camping was the tick scare. I also woke up in the middle of the night to a gigantic moth beating its wings against the side of the tent. I was quite panicked. "-Michela Hizine


What was the most interesting thing about your camping experience?

" Its probably having hands on experience in outdoor camping and cleaning up the river. "-Simon Chang

Have you been camping before?

" Yes, I went with my church in a youth group then it was a type of camping site where they had no toilets."-Simon Chang

Which activity did you do that you liked the most?

" Probably fishing, it was relaxing then there was shade so it wasn't that hot. "-Simon Chang


Once back on Georgia Tech campus and well fed and showered we headed to the campus's student center where students received a presentation of the college application and financial aid process and college environmental careers. Then we went back to our favorite Outdoor Activity Center for our service project where students were pulling weeds, planting, mulching, removing invasive plants, and finally planting native plants.

The day was long and got even longer when we all attempted to go swimming as a self congratulatory way of relaxing but the fire alarm went off and we ended up having to cancel the swimming. Hopefully tomorrow before the reception we can allow the kids go swimming.

A Toast to the Environment...

The day began with students hearing from many presenters. Some touched on various topics from Dirty Energy Choices, Environmental Justice, and Communication Skills. I wanted to know what a first time student, got from the presentations.

Which presenter was most interesting?

" Darryl Haddock gave several interesting lessons on environmental injustice and how it negatively impacts low income and colored communities.  Not only was Mr. Haddock informative, but he really communicated with the participants in a fun way.  It was easy to laugh along with him and he made his lessons easy to comprehend and at the same time chock full of wonderful information. "-Nhi Tran

What made their presentation better than any of the others that you saw?

" Mr. Haddock's presentations were very eye opening and for me, it was like a slap of reality.  The demonstrations of the communities that have been impacted by pollution and illegal dumping has really made me realize how large scale these problems are.  At the same time, his teachings have truly inspired me to change communities for the better, even if it is something as simple as picking up trash, because no one in any place should live in a trash filled dump where they are at a higher risk for physical diseases and psychological diseases. "-Nhi Tran

Was there anything they could have worked on to make it better?

" There is only one thing I can suggest, and that is better time management.  Usually we have everything planned out but sometimes it goes a little off course.  For example, when we visited the creek, he planned for us to measure the size, flow, and appearance of the creek; however, it took a little too long and we could not complete what we had planned to do. "-Nhi Tran


Earlier today we did a toxic tour of Atlanta and saw areas impacted not by just pollution but by political factors that cause people to be moved out of their homes as known with the Bowen Homes area. I asked a first time student how she felt about what she saw...

How did you feel about the abandoned apartment houses filled with trash?

"Reading the words, 'Save Me' spray painted on the side of the buildings really made me sad. It made me realize that people who lived there were torn from their houses that they loved and cherished. Also, seeing how poorly people treated the property ,by throwing trash, couches, clothes and even hot tubs in the back of the apartments made me realize how much we need to help our community. "-Demia Tucker

what would you have done if this were your neighborhood?

"If this was my neighborhood, I would do everything in my power to clean it up. I would ask the news, and reporters to come out and let the world know what was going on. Also, I would ask people in and out of the community to help clean it up. I would not  let this be unknown. "-Demia Tucker

I talked to a woman in the area about why she was moving. She said that the area was falling to waste and that she needed to move after 4 months. Would you have moved if you were in her shoes?

"I would try to help the buildings first, as stated in my previous answer. If I don't have any cooperation, after trying hard to repair the neighborhood, then yes,I would move before I am forced out."-Demia Tucker



Just getting back from the environmental justice dinner where we had a number of people receiving accolades, but after the dinner I sat down and interviewed Alex Grayned to talk about what she got out the series of events. Here' s what she has to say:

Who did you sit with at your table?

" Imran Battla who was an interesting person who was so passionate about his environment.  "-Alex Grayned

What did you like about the Dinner?

" I liked the encouraging and passionate speeches delivered by the presenters that demonstrated the need and demand for people who are deeply concerned about their environment. "-Alex Grayned

How has what Mustafa said impacted your life?

" Mustafa stated that communities need environmental justices in more ways than one , and that communities needed to be more involved regarding the environment around them.   "-Alex Grayned

I even managed to talk to Marcus Penny of Retrofitting A Million and ask him a few questions on his work:

All in all today was a great day in the world of Environmental Justice just check it out!

Lights, Water, Action

Sean Nicholson & Enrika Maddox talk to us about Retrofitting a Million, project  planning for community outreach and climate action. And WOW! We start out with questions for various environmental prizes! This is going to be good!

Being shown a map of environmental hot spots that highlight pollution in a County around a small part of Georgia  can be very moving when you see that the pollution is clumped up around your area. Be it Decatur, Fulton, or Dekalb anyone can get a real look at how much impact they 'need' to be having to change their lives and the lives of others around them for the better and for the healthier.

Student initiated, Retrofitting A Million, serves to connect communities of modest means thorough service and learning opportunities that explore health economic and environmental benefits of sustainability.

" If I replaced my light bulbs at home i would need 13 FLC's and it would save me money on the electric bill how awesome and kick butt it that?"-Lyndon

Kids are asking questions and getting info about real issues concerning how to implement any really good plans for getting the community active in recycling. With programs like AMPS Atlanta, Columbus, and Laurel, UGRO, and EcoTenships Pipeline Project its a wonder why I haven't heard of them before! For more on what you want to know about Retrofitting A Million check out their home site @ http://retrofitamillion.org/

And now we hear from The EPA and Mustafa Ali on Environmental Justice

tidor, by the way has been with us with us since Saturday experiencing all the fun!

Children start the day with presentations from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Next up will be Kedesch Altidor and Mustafa Ali of the EPA! Ms. Al

The round up of Monday...

Now that we're back on campus students are writing thank you letters and answering food for thought questions but I took this time to interview 3 Paige, Brelyn, Julius about today's events and how they felt on the situation.

So how did you feel about Amber Nave's presentation on climate change and your role in the environment?

"I really enjoyed her presentation today and I think others did as well. She was very enthusiastic about what she does and she made me feel the same excitement that she did She me made me realized that I had an important role in the world and i could make a big difference by simply changing me habits."-Pagie Burton

Was it easier to understand your role from her using her power point?

"Yes, she broke it down in a way that made me understand just how important my role was."-Paige Burton

Did you learn anything you didn't already know before watching the video?

"Yes, it surprised me when she mentioned that my carbon footprint took up not only one but a few football fields."-Paige Burton

Earlier today we took a hike at Cascade Springs Nature Reserve and learned about many people do not know that such places exist in their neighborhoods.

How would you feel if you had a park or a spring in your neighborhood that you didn't know about? Would you fight to keep it clean and promote it so that everyone can use it?

"I would be ecstatic and would want to keep it clean."-Brelyn Barclay

What was most interesting about Cascade Springs?

"The waterfall"-Brelyn Barclay

What kind of appreciation do you have for the environment before the camp? Has that changed now? How so?

"So much and still so much because i learned how to help the environment." -Brelyn Barclay

After the Hike we ate food prepared by Chef Shayne. It was fish, chicken and vegetables and he explained that fish was a lot easier to digest than other foods.

Did you notice a difference in the food you ate from Food For Life Supreme versus anything else you eat at home?

"Yes, I did notice a dramatic difference in the Food For Life's food. It tasted fresh, and it was good for the body as well, not like the food at home."-Julius Emmanuel

Which would you say is better the food from Homegrown or the food from Food for Life Supreme?

"I think they're both great in their own way, but I  have to give Homegrown the edge. It was more in quantity and still great in quality."-Julius Emmanuel

Do you think you could eat food prepared this way ( a Healthy way) for the remainder of your life?

"Yes I can, it taste so delicious, and it would keep me healthy throughout my life."Julius Emmanuel

Food For Life Supreme

Now students listen to Chef Shayne From Food for Life Supreme. He's explaining what his restaurant does to enhance food from what people normally like to eat such as burgers and substitute it with Fish. Since a lot of foods sit on the stomach and are not good for the digestive track fish does a lot better.  So A person wanting a burger would instead eat a Cuban burger and they even bake their own bread making sure that the ingredients go more towards your health.

"Most of the sauces we make ourselves. we cal lit Tiki sauce, and we marinate it in that."-Chef Shayne

"one of the things we do sell is our salad dressing, but we don't sell our Tiki sauce as of yet."Chef Shayne

what are some of the other dishes you serve?

" The Cuban burger, the fiesta bowl, salmon Mignon, the royal burger, and The Decatur "-Chef Shayne

What made you want to be a cook with a spin on health while doing it?

" i was looking for  avenue as far as helping the community and started out as an intern Maryland and i started out in prep, and i traveled to the other food for life's to get more of the exp. and now I'm the head chef in Atlanta for a food for life. "-Chef Shayne
Do you serve healthy beverages as well?

" Yes, we serve fresh squeezed lemonade as well as a supreme tea which is like raspberry and blueberry. and we can put them together and call it the splash. "-Chef Shayne

Do you serve Deserts?

" that's one of the avenues that's more transitional cause we serve carrot pies , bean pies, chocolate cookies, pound cakes, carrot cake."-Chef Shayne

Fun & Learning at the Out Door Activity Center

We're back again at our favorite activity center! switching gears to learn about the plight of urban streams, we've head to the Out Door Activity Center in Southwest Atlanta to heat Darryl Haddock speak on Water Quality, Water Monitoring, and hopefully with the weather willing we resume our regular track and hike to a small waterfall.

Later students will learn about Sustainable Farming Systems, The Urban Forest and its invasive plants and threatened habitats. And the students will have fun learning to remove these invasive plants and installing native plants. More coming soon as we continue to learn, understand, and work toward a better, greener environment!!

Into a changing climate...

Today the students learn about climate change and urban ecosystems. Amber Nave, with the Alliance for Climate Education,  opened with a wonderful presentation on global warming talking about green house gases and the importance of recycling.

Next students broke up into groups consisting of their respective schools to come up with ideas on how to either rekindle the fire of their ET club or create one at their school. Tucker High School for instance has not ET Club however they have a partnership with Habitat for Humanity and Rivers Alive, so they have to approach creating a club in a different way.

Love is Love Farm & Farmers Market at Grant Park

Students headed to ''Love is Love'' farms where Farmer Erin gave us a tour of the garden. Students who were apart of the institute last year got to see how things have changed while new students to the program were able to learn that different crops grown every 12 years! Children got to work and understand first hand what an organic farm is and how to properly work and operate in one.

I asked a first time participant about her work in the green house cutting dead leaves off of garlic. Here's what she had to say:

Have you ever eaten organically grown foods before?

"Yes I have we eat apples and carrots and go to the farmers market to get food which is about all we eat in my house."-Caitlee Greene

How did you feel about the gardening at Love is Love farms?

"I actually really enjoyed seeing that cause it kinda gives me an idea about what I can do in my own back yard."-Caitlee Greene

Do you think you could run a organic farm such as this one?

"Absouletly I would actually love to participate in that activity. "-Caitlee Greene

Later we were able to travel with Mr. Robby Astrove to Grant Park and everyone was allowed to see the product portion of the organic foods sold to the public. I myself managed to get my hands on a few delectable  treats most notably Creamed Honey from 'Pure Honey', Greek Yogurt from 'Atlanta Fresh Artisan Creamery', and I saw one student eat a very strange meal that looked every well cooked but he was so flustered by the deliciousness of what he was eating I HAD to ask where he got it from so I interviewed them on their work:

After a day at the farmers market students filled their bellies with organic food from Home Grown on Memorial Drive. They later found out that the same food they ate came not from a farmers market but the very garden in the back of the restaurant itself! All in all each student was satisfied beyond words from the delicious foods! 

I talked to one student, Messiah Johnson, who had the pleasure of eating a second time around. Here's what he had to say:

How did you feel about eating at Home Grown again?

"it was definitely a good experience the food was great. It made me think about what I eat on a daily basis and alter that to something healthy even if its not organic, something that isn't so greasy like Mac'Donalds or fast food and with more vegetable and like 'real' food. "-Messiah Johnson

Was there anything different about the food that you didn't like?

"Well i don't really eat pork so i didn't have any of the pot roast but everything else was really good. "-Messiah Johnson

Finally students went to Wheat Street Gardens to learn even more about organic foods and how they tie in with historical aspects and what they do for the community today!

I managed to snap some photos of some of the things they managed to start growing and put them in a slide show for display. 

Team Building Exercises...

Students discuss their experiences from team building and leap into a discussion about the environment and the things that affect their way off life as they await a presentation from James King. I had a chance to sit with him and ask him a couple of questions. This is what he had to say to them:

1. Being that most of the students to the ET program are new do you think your presentation had an impact on the students today? 

“Yes, I received great feedback. I like the give and take conversations we had about diversity in the outdoors. The ET youth really did open up about the barriers they face in getting into outdoors.”-James King Jr. 

2. How did you get involved with Earth Tomorrow and the Environment and what is your occupation?

“Mrs. Na'Taki Osbourne-Jelks asked me last year to help with the ET program camp-out. Also to mentor the peer mentors in talking about diversity in the outdoors/job opportunities being a college students and the transition of the high school youth in becoming young environmentalist.”-James King Jr.

3. What is the coolest part of your job?

“I just started interning for the National Parks Service Southeast Regional Office Headquarters. The most intriguing part of my internship is learning about the National Heritage Areas. I am a huge nature/history buff.”-James King Jr.

Now we've moved from the home grown market to the Home Grown Foods a local restaurant that grows and serves its own foods.

Ten dollar WELL spent! #ETSI2012

Now we're headed to the farmers market at Grant Park! I personally plan to invest in some delicious treats! Do you? See ya there!

I must say i'm impressed that they rotate their crops saying there won't be the same crop for 12 whole years! Wow talk about getting in fast

hey harvest potatos and blueberries next We're take a tour of the East Atlanta Fruit Tree all with Robby Astrove in the Concrete Jungle

We're off to a rainy start but that won't stop these future environmentalist. We're currently on are way to the "Love is Love" Farms in East Lake where t

Rock Climbing with the students

So our first event was Rock Climbing and we had two previous students attempt to best one another at reaching the top. Before we all knew it, James and Messiah had both given up with James having gotten farther than Messiah. I asked James how he felt about the experience having been the second time around here's what he had to say:

"My arms are tight! I think I could have been faster going up."-James Blackburn II

You know going slow and steady is the best route

"Not when you're rock climbing"-James

I asked a first time student to the program about her travel to the top. Being no stranger to rock climbing her self she was swift and fluent in ringing the bell that awaits climbers. Here's what she said about reaching the goal:

Did the climb come easy to you?  "Yes."-Paige Burton
How did it feel being a woman and reaching the goal before the men? "it felt great because it just shows that its not always  about strength its about strategizing."

An intern for the NWF, Louisa Pinto, made it to the top and I asked her how it felt:

Is this your first time climbing: "No."-Lousia Pinto

Was this particularly easy for you or was there a challenge you didn't expect" Um, it was hard,, but I didn't think I would make it to the top. It was about as hard as i expected but i didn't expect to make it to the top"-Lousia Pinto.

Finally I spoke with another new student to the program and a first time climber:

How did you feel before you got up to climb? "When I decided to climb this wall emotions were running high." Michela Hizine

What was it like once you got up there? "when I started climbing I realized I might just loose a nail. I felt like an ant on an ant hill. It was such a big wall." Michela Hizine

Now that you've attempted to climb do you think you'll do it again in the future? "I believe so. i don't want the wall to conquer me."-Michela Hizine

Checking In!!

It has finally started!!! Students are pouring in and checking in fast. Within in hours Peer Mentors will be welcoming the students with introductions as well a brief overview of the agenda for the week and the exciting  experiences to come. Let the 2012 Earth Tomorrow Summer Institute begin!!!

There remains less than a day before the learning and fun begins! Are you packed and ready?

Welcome Back!!!

Welcome back to the Earth Tomorrow Institute of 2012!!! Are you as excited and thrilled to be returning to that natural habitat just outside your door? I know I am and with just two more days til the events begin anew I'm already planning on how best to inform you of the events that are to come for the following week! With the program lasting from Saturday to Friday of June 9th to the 15th you can bet that many more students will be leaving with a higher knowledge about the enviornment and how it relates to them! I'm Lyndon B. Habersham Jr. and I welcome you back to the Summer Institute, enjoy!!