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Larry Volpe Male San Jose, CA United States: Share on Facebook Share Twitter

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Let's G.O.! Play Serve C…

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C&NN Natural Teachers Ne…

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Larry Volpe's Discussions

Reaching Critical Mass, Treating the Cause Not the Effect!

I have been taking 5th graders through college kids on outdoor adventures for 13 years. I dedicate about 9 weekends a year taking these kids backpacking, car camping, sea kayaking, river rafting and…Continue

Started Oct 2, 2011

Toxic Flowers Coming to a Vase Near You!

Flowers, roses and all the other floral arrangements you buy need to be perfect. So perfect that the smallest blemish makes then unmarketable. As a result some flowers use dozens to 100 times more…Continue

Started Feb 10, 2011

A Letter I sent to Sierra Magazine. If you agree, write to them in support of this proposal.

Started Jan 30, 2011

ONE VERY SMALL STEP
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Check out...…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Larry Volpe Jan 15, 2011.

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Larry Volpe's blog post was featured

School Gardening with Native Plants

The passion I have for the natural world has been with me as long I can remember. I have been sharing this passion with my students for fifteen years. What better way to attract wildlife than through landscaping? Walk through any neighborhood and 98% of the flora you see is from another country or continent. Much of this provides little wildlife value. It only makes sense to plant the plants that our native fauna have coevolved with over many thousands of years. California is a Mecca for…See More

Aug 14, 2012

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Larry Volpe posted a blog post

School Gardening with Native Plants

Aug 12, 2012

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Larry Volpe commented on Children & Nature Network's group C&NN Natural Teachers Network

"I might go if the C&NN wants to sponsor me."

Apr 6, 2012

Larry Volpe commented on Children & Nature Network's group C&NN Natural Teachers Network

"Seems costs prohibitive for the community where I teach....I am doubtful scholarships will cover enough of the expenses."

Apr 6, 2012

Larry Volpe replied to Children & Nature Network's discussion Moving the Classroom Outdoors: Schoolyard-Enhanced Learning in Action in the group C&NN Natural Teachers Network

"I know that my local chapter (Santa Clara Valley) of the CA Native Plant Society is very supportive of this endeavor. They are an excellent resource for helping in finding professionals in design, install and maintaining schoolyard learning places.…"

Jun 7, 2011

Larry Volpe replied to Avery Cleary's discussion How are you planning to "Play, Serve, Celebrate"? in the group Let's G.O.!

"The school I teach at (Dan Lairon Elementary) in San Jose, CA participated in the CA Native Plant Society Going Native Tour for the third time in four years. Five of my students worked real hard and spent 3 months learning how to be docents and…"

Apr 17, 2011

Larry Volpe replied to Juan D. Martinez's discussion How did your Let's G.O. (Get Outside) event go?! in the group Let's G.O.!

"The Natural Teacher brought 10 of my 5th graders to NorCal's largest state park. Henry Coe State Park is a Mecca for wildflowers in the spring. The weather on Saturday was perfect for a 4 mile hike through oak woodland and chaparral habitats.…"

Apr 10, 2011

Larry Volpe replied to Avery Cleary's discussion How are you planning to "Play, Serve, Celebrate"? in the group Let's G.O.!

"Yes indeed...the purpose of the great organization!! He has endless energy and enthusiasm. "

Mar 8, 2011

Larry Volpe replied to Avery Cleary's discussion How are you planning to "Play, Serve, Celebrate"? in the group Let's G.O.!

"I have been diligently training my students to be garden tour docents. Every year the Santa Clara Chapter of the California Native Plant Society hosts the Going Native Garden Tour in which citizens, and public lands, open their gardens to the public…"

Mar 8, 2011

Larry Volpe replied to Avery Cleary's discussion How are you planning to "Play, Serve, Celebrate"? in the group Let's G.O.!

"My good friend Donal has been running Adventure Learning Camps http://www.adventurelearningcamps.org/ out of Moscow, ID for about 6 years or so. I think the organization he founded (in Portland, then moved to ID) actually does fit the bill of…"

Mar 1, 2011

Larry Volpe replied to Avery Cleary's discussion How are you planning to "Play, Serve, Celebrate"? in the group Let's G.O.!

"The best way for kids to learn is from nature. In the fourteen years I have teaching 5th grade I have taken countless students on hundreds of outdoors adventures during school field trips and on weekend excursions. Of course the school day…"

Feb 23, 2011

Larry Volpe posted a discussion

A Letter I sent to Sierra Magazine. If you agree, write to them in support of this proposal.

Dear Editors,I am writing to see if you would be interested in doing a story about an award I was recently honored with. I teach 5th grade in San Jose, CA. In my 14 years of teaching I have donated countless 1000’s of hours as a community volunteer gardening with my students well into the evening, during my lunch, on weekends and during the summer. We not only garden with vegetables, but I also landscape with all CA native plants and use this time to make learning fun and engaging while…See More

Jan 30, 2011

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Larry Volpe replied to Larry Volpe's discussion ONE VERY SMALL STEP

"Gardening with CA native plants at our school has provided some opportunities at our school that are beyond measuring the value to kids.Things that tests cannot measure. It is still an uphill battle getting support from administration.If you ever…"

Jan 15, 2011

Larry Volpe posted a discussion

ONE VERY SMALL STEP

Check out...http://www.fmsd.org/District/News-Section/13716-Natural-Teacher-of-the-Year-Award.htmlA very small step in getting our educational system to put value into something other than Standardized testing.See More

Jan 15, 2011

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Larry Volpe's album was featured

Uvas Canyon County Park San Jose, CA

All kids shown have photo release signed in order to promote San Jose Inner City Outings program. Go to http://www.sierraclub.org/ico/ to see how you can bring more adventures like this to well deserving kids!

Dec 16, 2010

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Larry Volpe's 13 photos were featured

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Dec 16, 2010

Profile Information

Title or Role: 5th grade teacher

Organization: Dan Lairon Elementary

Bio: I've been teaching fifth grade for almost 14 years. I received my BS in Restoration Ecology and Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. I grew up in the mtns. of S. NY as well as the Finger Lakes region of CNY. I grew up appreciating clean, wild places and that upbringing has made me an advocate for wild places. And there is no better way to advocate for such places than to change the attitudes of future consumers, leaders and voters. Sharing nature with my students has been recognized by C&NN and it is a great honor to receive the Natural Teacher Award. This honor will hopefully inspire many more educators so we can reach more youth.

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School Gardening with Native Plants

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Posted on August 12, 2012 at 11:00am

Local Sierra Club chapter posts Natural Teacher Award on homepage.

Here's the homepage of the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club with an article about the Natural Teacher Award.

http://lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/

Posted on December 12, 2010 at 6:19pm — 1 Comment

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At 12:15pm on November 30, 2010, John Thielbahr said…: Larry, could you send me an email so we can communicate directly. My email is john.thielbahr003@gmail.com. I want to keep you up to date on some projects we are discussing in your area, and get your ideas about how to invite more teachers to become Natural Teachers. Best, jt

At 3:01am on November 28, 2010, Juliet Robertson said…: Hello Larry

Welcome to C&NN Connect and congratulations on the Natural Teacher's Award - I suspect you've set the standard for years come!

Over here in Scotland, we are encouraging our Teaching Council that regulates the teaching profession to offer "Professional Recognition" to teachers who demonstrate very good practice in outdoor learning. There is already such recognition for sustainable development education.

Best wishes
Juliet

At 9:39pm on November 26, 2010, John Thielbahr said…: Hi Larry and thanks for your note. I do know Donal. I was Board Chair of a local environmental education non-profit in Moscow, Idaho and met him several times. Very committed to our work.

Many thanks for your offer to participate in tracking the impact of your great work. I am just beginning discussions with a major university about intergenerational research about the impact of nature. I will keep you posted on our discussions.

Congratulations again on winning the first Natural Teacher Award. Well deserved. I look forward to meeting you at some point and working with you to expand the movement. Very best wishes. John

At 2:10pm on November 26, 2010, Suz Lipman said…: Glad you're ready to help spread the word! Are you on Facebook? We do community building there, as well. And thanks for the heads-up to let all the wonderful natural teachers that we've recently come in contact with know about this forum. I've seen some great sharing of resources and ideas on the Natural Teachers Network, and I'm sure there will be lots more. Cheers!

At 1:21pm on November 26, 2010, Suz Lipman said…: Hi Larry! Welcome to the forum. I'm really glad you joined and posted your terrific pictures. It was wonderful to meet you and celebrate your Natural Teachers Award and great that you could be honored for your very inspirational work getting kids into nature so they can form their own lifetime bonds with it. Come on by the Natural Teachers Network group, which I'm sure will be a home for you here, among others. See you soon!