SR 67 — Commending Earth Force.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24105922D I SENATE RESOLUTION NO.

67 NE OfferedN February 12, 2024 Commending Earth Force.

––––––––––Agreed Tto Patron––Ebbinby the Senate, February 15, 2024 R ––––––––––O WHEREAS, Earth Force, an organization dedicated to engaging young people as active citizens who improveL the environment and their communities now and in the future, celebrated its 30th anniveDsary in 2023;

andhe environment and their communities now and in the future, celebrated its 30th anniversary in WHEREAS, inspired by the work of a group of elementary school students from Freeport, Maine,UMaine, experiencesL the Pew Charitable Trusts founded Earth Force in 1993 with the aim to provide young people with civic E anderiences that will motivate them to become active citizens in addressing environmental challenges;

andD E WHEREAS, through the Earth Force process, which combines best practices from environmental education, service-learning, experiential civics education, and youth development, young individuals gain direct experience in addressing environmental and community issues, developing valuable leadership skillsskiWHEREAS, alongEarth Force's approach has evolved over the way;years in collaboration with other environmental organizations––such as Global Rivers Environmental Education Network and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Chesapeake Bay Office––and in 2019 launched its innovative S Environmental Action Civics program;

and WHEREAS,6 problems, identifying issues that affect their lives, and developing and implementing a course of action, Earth Force's approachEnvironmental hasAction evolvedCivics overprogram thehelps yearsstudents indevelop collaborationa withrange otherof Oceanicessential skills R and Atmosphericmost Administration'simportantly, Chesapeakeinspires Baythem Office––andto become involved in 2019the launchedenvironmental itsdecision-making innovativethat Environmentalwill Actionimpact Civicstheir program;futures;

and WHEREAS, with adults guiding young people through the process of investigating environmental problems, identifying issues that affect their lives, and developing and implementing a course Sf action, Earth Force's Environmental Action Civics program helps students develop a range of essential s6ills and most importantly, inspires them to become involved in the environmental decision-making that will impact their futures;

and WHEREAS, today, Earth Force has programs in 28 states, with more than 750 educators empowering nearly 50,000 students to become agents of change for the benefit of the environment and the future of thetheWHEREAS, planet;local chapters of Earth Force have collaborated with Caring for our Watersheds, an education program that encourages students to participate in efforts to preserve and improve local watersheds through student-led solutions;

and WHEREAS,recently localsuccessful chaptersin oftheir Earthefforts Forceto haveaddress collaboratedthe withissue Caringof formold ourin Watersheds,schools, an educationaccomplishment program that encourageswill studentsimprove tothe participatequality inof effortslife tofor preservethousands andof improveyoung localpeople :in the Commonwealth;

35now, watWHEREAS,therefore, membersbe ofit EarthRESOLVED Forceby at George Washington Middle School in Alexandria were 36 recently successful in their efforts to address the issueSenate of moldVirginia, inThat schools,Earth anForce accomplishmenthereby thatbe willcommended /on 37 improve the qualityoccasion of lifethe fororganization's thousands30th ofanniversary; young people in the Commonwealth;

now,and, therefore, be it /presentation 38to RESOLVEDEarth byForce theas Senatean expression of Virginia,the ThatSenate Earthof ForceVirginia's herebyadmiration befor commendedthe onorganization's themission occasionand ofbest 39wishes thefor organization'sits 30thcontinued anniversary;success.

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Earth Force as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for the organization's mission and best wishes for its continued success.