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!