July 5th, 2006

267 Duckworth Street
St. John's, NL
A1C 1G9
www.conservationcorps.nf.ca
tel: (709) 729 - 7280
fax: (709) 729 - 7270

  Media Release
 
Protected Areas Association Green Team Performs Play on
Preserving Endangered Spaces

St. John’s, NL – The Conservation Corps Newfoundland and Labrador has partnered with the Protected Areas Association to entertain and educate children about endangered spaces in our province. Together they have hired a Green Team to produce, direct, and perform an environmentally themed play entitled, “Something Unique in Every Place”.

The play centres around the character Dougie, an environmentally uninformed man who travels through the Newfoundland wilderness. During his journey, he has humorous encounters with many local endangered species, and gradually begins to understand Newfoundland and Labrador’s unique ecosystem. Through these interactions Dougie realizes the importance of conservation and the protection of endangered spaces. The play was performed at day camps throughout the summer as well as the Newfoundland and Labrador 30^th Annual Folk Festival, this past August in Bannerman Park.

Laura Jackson, Associate Director for the Protected Areas Association applauded this method of environmental education, “Conserving portions of all of Newfoundland and Labrador’s unique habitats and species is the way we protect our province’s biodiversity.  Through interactive performances with children, the PAA Green Team is educating the next generation of conservationists.”

“The Protected Areas Association Green Team program provides an exceptional opportunity for creative young people to convey important environmental messages through drama, “continued Jackson.

The Green Team program has been operating in the province since 1993. It has employed more than 1400 young people in the completion of more than 250 projects in over 100 communities across the province.

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For further information, contact Dave Whitten at paagreenteam@gmail.com

The Conservation Corps Newfoundland and Labrador is dedicated to providing youth with training and employment in environmental and cultural heritage conservation.

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... an excerpt from the Green Team Play this past Summer.



Dougie: By's, some cold out here. I've been walkin' for tree hours. Where do you spose I am?

Boreal Felt Lichen: Ripple Pond!

Dougie: (looking around for voice) Who said that?

BFL: I did!

Dougie: Who's I? - and where's I?

BFL: Me, the boreal felt lichen. the grayish purple thing over here on the tree. The one with the flower!

Dougie: (looking around again) Bo-re-al Felt Lichen? Was dat?

BFL: Well, that's an interesting story. I'm actually 2 things in one. Algae AND fungus.

Dougie: Fungus? (disgusted)

BFL: Yes, fungus. I'm a fungi.

Dougie: A fun guy? You don't look dat fun to me. Hangin' dere on de tree,
not doin' nutting - you're worse than me brudder Jim!