SOURIS - School's out and a group of guys scuff down the street in Souris, biffing each other on the back of the.head, thinking about girls and crapping on the latest rock video.

Among them are one or two fellows who, unnoticed, wad up their gum wrappers and jam them into their pockets instead of heaving them away, or take silent note of the tansy ragwort they're passing that's growing in the nearby ditch.

Although they look like the rest of the gang, these kids are different - a little apart from the rest - and it's a good bet that they are graduates of Fred Cheverie's ecology class at the consolidated school - the only one of its kind on Prince Edward Island.

RAISING AWARENESS

For the past 16 years, Mr. Cheverie, a grade seven and eight teacher, has been raising the ecological awareness of children who might otherwise ponder little more about the results of pollution, for example, than its effects on the Ninja Turtles.

There is no text to this course. He designed it himself with the help of co-staffers, and its evolving content changes and enlarges as the years drift along. Issues add on as they emerge, expanding the greater picture.

"Fifteen years ago we weren't talking about the ozone layer or the tropical rain forests", said Mr. Cheverie, but it all fits in and the students are making the connections.

The ecology class covers everything from native Island plants and animals,and minute biological ecosystems, to global issues of energy production, waste management, pollution and more.

Most of it involves a hands-on component with field trips and projects tying things together. Never far away from home, the students study anything from area dumps and landfill practices to farms and salt marshes, or any of the coastline's vast ecosystems with their seaweeds, shellfish and interdependant biological communities.

ECOLOGIST'S DREAM Souris is a part of eastern Prince Edward Island. It is a farming and fishing region where rolling fields run down to the sea, making it an ecologist's dream. Mr. Cheverie is a rangy, athletic man with a long drooping moustache, and on any day he can be seen leading his youngsters along rocks or roadsides investigating the natural qualities of their immediate world. The course is divided into sections. Take forestry for example. Here they learn to identify native Island trees or how to measure wood cordage and board feet of lumber. They are shown examples of good and bad forestry practices and what it all means to their futures. The Island flora section is a botany-type endeavor where they learn about flowering plants, collecting a minimum of 35 weeds whose characteristics they identify and know. Laura MacAulay says now when she is on her way home she finds herself remarking: "0, there's a sow thistle," and she knows whether it's medicinal, poisonous or whatever.

Teacher Fred Cheverie has put Souris Consolidated on the map with his ecology program that brings students in political and academic touch with the natural world around them. Here he discusses a recent weed gathering project with grade 8 students Laura MacAulay and Karl McCormack.

STUDIES ISSUES

The class investigates energy alternatives, soil erosion, agriculture practices, marine disasters and all forms of water and air pollution.

"It seems to be creating an amazing awareness and the kids are proud of what they know to the point that many come back after they have on to grade nine and want to help with next year's course," Mr. Cheverie said.

Born and raised on a farm, nature and the outdoors have always been a key part of Mr. Cheverie's life.

"As I watched what was happening in the world and what we human beings were doing to it, I knew I had to do something," he said.

His way is through education.

"If a kid can develop an appreciation for what they have, learn to see what's happening and what will happen if we keep on this way, the chances of finding a solution for this world are greatly increased."

by Nancy Willis - from the Kings County Weekly, October 31, 1991.

Copyright
Souris Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation

All pictures appearing on this site or its associated flickr account are the property of the photographers and the Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation.
They may not be copied without permission of the photographer and the Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation.