Earth 2010-Your Future: Population Growth and Environmental Impact is a four-week residential camp designed for 50 seventh and eight grade minority students from Missouri. The purpose of the camp is to increase participant awareness and knowledge of environmental issues and how science, technology, and mathematics are involved. In addition, the camp will provide career guidance and motivation for students to remain in school and continue the study of science and mathematics. Earth 2010 will involve a detailed environmental study of Stone, Taney, and Greene Counties in Missouri. Stone and Taney Counties are rural, forested counties which are host to millions of tourists each year. Greene County is also experiencing an increase in population which is related to this tourist industry. This influx of people has caused a variety of environmental problems (e.g., increases in energy consumption, waste production, and construction). Students will be provided with the background knowledge necessary to identify, examine, and propose solutions to selected problems. Lecture, discussion, extensive hands-on experiential learning, and small group research will be the primary tools used to examine these topics. Social issues and political ramifications associated with these problems will also be examined. The issues in these counties will be related to issues in the students' home areas and the world. A multidisciplinary approach will be used with six academic departments from Southwest Missouri State University being involved. Earth 2010 participants will have science and mathematics knowledge and experience to become active members of their community in environmental issues. ***
