DOINews: DOI Educational Partnerships Program: Department of the Interior Employees Participate at D.C. Elementary School Career Day

	Madelyn Yates (NPS) and Beverly McKnight (NPS) talk to Ross Elementary School students at the school's annual career day. Photo by Brenda Woods, DOI.
	Representatives from the Department of the Interior gather for a group photo at Ross Elementary School's Annual Career Day on May 30, 2014. (Back Row from left: Charles Wilkins (U.S. Park Police, NPS); Theresa Jefferson (BLM); Dr. James Moore (BOEM). Front row, from left: Brenda Woods (OS); Robert Pos (USFWS); Beverly McKnight (NPS); Madelyn Yates (NPS); Jeff Jones (NPS) and John Fowler (NPS). Cleveland Williams (NPS), who also volunteered, is not in photo. Photo by Kenneth Rogers.
	Dr. James Moore (BOEM) talks to Ross Elementary School students at the school's annual career day. Photo by Brenda Woods, DOI.
	Madelyn Yates (NPS); Beverly McKnight (NPS); and Cleveland Williams (NPS) pose for a photo at Ross Elementary School's Annual Career Day. Photo by Brenda Woods, DOI.

On May 30, representatives from the Department of the Interior participated in Ross Elementary School's Annual Career Day. The event was held at the Sumner School in the Great Hall. Students from kindergarten through fifth grade participated in the event. Kenneth Rogers, professional school counselor at Ross Elementary School, coordinated the event.

The volunteers from the Department of the Interior included Robert Pos, fishery biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Cleveland Williams, affirmative employment and diversity and inclusion program manager, National Park Service; Dr. James Moore, marine archaeologist, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; Madelyn Yates, special park use coordinator, NPS; Charles Wilkins, U.S. Park Police, Canine Unit, NPS; Theresa Jefferson, environmental education specialist, Bureau of Land Management; John Fowler, park guide and volunteer coordinator, NPS; Beverly McKnight, special emphasis program manager, NPS; and Jeff Jones, park ranger, NPS.

The DOI representatives' exhibits displayed materials specific to their respective bureau. The displays included brochures about their bureaus, educational materials, artifacts, posters, and hands-on activities for the students. It was a very impressive site. Excitement filled the room as the students entered the Great Hall. The students were eager to ask the volunteers questions about their career and display items. Wilkins and his canine was a big hit with the students. Students were intrigued by the plastic fish mounts and the many types of fish and zebra mussels encased in plastic displayed at Pos' exhibit.

"I truly enjoyed myself at Ross Elementary School's Annual Career Day,” Fowler said. The students were respectful and energetic, and they asked very thorough and thought provoking questions. Not only was it a pleasure to represent the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House and Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Sites, but it was also very important for me to be able to briefly use Bethune's and Woodson's lives as examples for the students. These two American heroes did not let the circumstances into which they were born stop them from achieving their goals, and Ross' students should do just the same."

Moore said, “The Career Fair provided a wonderful opportunity to explain various careers that they may have not realized existed, such as doing underwater scientific research, and that there are many fields of marine science that could accommodate a variety of interests.”

“I believe that it is important that the Fish and Wildlife Service applies a comprehensive outreach strategy that includes public school visits, field trips, partner events, and other educational events,” Pos said. “In addition to promoting Eco literacy, this will expose youth to career opportunities in fisheries conservation.”

The Department of the Interior's participation in career fairs helps to make students aware of the many career fields at DOI and gives them an opportunity to talk with professionals in some of those fields.

Ross Elementary School, a DOI partnership school, serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

For additional information about volunteer opportunities, contact Brenda Woods at (202) 208-3617 or via e-mail at Brenda_Woods@ios.doi.gov.

By: Brenda Woods, program manager, Educational Partnerships Program, OS, DOI

June 12, 2014