What steps do I take to teach kids about the environment? I have passion,knowledge and will, but no degree.?

Question

I wish kids would have more compassion for eachother, wildlife and the environment. I'm 44 and just looked at how long it would take to get a degree. Is there a way I can teach kids without all those years of schooling. Maybe a teacher's aide or something close? Thank you.

Answer 1

There are at least four methods for getting into this kind of work:
1) doing the kinds of work you have done in previous jobs, but for an environment-related organization or business until you can move into this kind of position for the same employer;
2) taking an internship closely related to what you want to do;
3) volunteering until you can move into a paid position;
4) starting out with AmeriCorp on this project:
http://www.ecoemploy.com/jobs/service.html

Here's an example of the first strategy. Let's say you have a background in finance, you would be able to take a Finance Manager position at the Alaska Conservation Foundation. Once there, you could be looking into jobs that entail the kind of work you're describing.
http://www.ecoemploy.com/jobs/new-hampshire.html

For the second strategy, here's a listing for an internship. While they "prefer" someone with a biology degree, someone with great passion and self-education would certainly be considered:
http://www.ecoemploy.com/jobs/connecticut.html

As for the third strategy, Idealist.org has a database of volunteer jobs related to the environment:
http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/SiteIndex/AssetSearch/search?areasOfFocus=16&assetTypes=VolunteerOpportunity&country=United%20States&fetchLimit=30&languageDesignation=en&onlyFetchAssetProperties=1&sid=61576672-184-fexLe&siteClassifierName=idealist&sortOrderings=modificationDate&startIndex=0&validStatusTypes=APPROVED&validStatusTypes=UNAPPROVED&validStatusTypes=DEFERRED

Finally, as you can see from three of the links above, there is a whole web site dedicated to "Environmental Jobs & Careers" and they have tons of resources for your search:
http://www.ecoemploy.com

Answer 2

You're better off without a degree. Colleges select nut-cases to teach those courses, and they turn the subject into political indoctrination. And that is the real danger when teaching kids -- stick to the science -- let them choose their own politics when they are old enough to reason.

Hopefully your passion is to teach kids truth, and there is precious little of that when enviro "experts" are trying to sell books.
And your knowledge is more important than passion.