ARCHIVED—Recipient Bios
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Year: 2000 – Province: Manitoba
Certificate of Achievement Recipients
David Barnes
School: Neelin High School
1020 Brandon Avenue
Brandon, Manitoba R7A 1K6
Principal: Murray MacMillan
School Telephone: 204-729-3180
School Fax: 204-726-5813
School Website: www.brandonsd.mb.ca/ecood/coverpage.htm
Grades/Subjects Taught: EcoOdyssey, a semester-long integrated course with credits in English, physical education, geography, environmental studies and biology
Teaching Approach:
- Motivation is a key factor for success both in the school system and in life.
- Aim to create the ideal learning environment using a variety of teaching approaches.
- Increase students' learning experience with activity-based projects, with the emphasis on participation.
Outstanding Achievements:
Created the EcoOdyssey semester program. Students spend the entire school day and many field trip nights with Mr. Barnes engaged in a wide variety of learning experiences:
- community service projects: for example, the 30-Hour Famine for World Vision and a trip to tornado-torn Arkansas with the Mennonite Central Committee
- class researched, wrote and published magazine about history of western Manitoba
- class links with expert resource people in community: for example, students work with a Brandon University professor on water testing of Assiniboine River
- wilderness excursions introduce students to the environment, and teach fitness, plant and animal identification, and leadership, teamwork and self-sufficiency
- students advance academically and personally: in 2000, one received the school's high academic achievement award and another won honourable mention; others received Young Humanitarian Award and a Red Cross certificate for community work.
Organized school environment club, which started a recycling program and developed a paper- making project, with students selling the products as a fundraiser.
Rave Reviews:
"I now realize why I should be proud of my Prairie province. I never realized what it had to offer until I was exposed to the land and people through EcoOdyssey's adventures." Student
"The prime force behind this experience and the personality that holds it all together is David Barnes." Parent volunteer