Read a wonderful article in Edutopia Magazine October 2007, that highlights programs that involve school kids in environmental activism through citizen science. Kids across the world are becoming the eyes and ears of environmental scientists by monitoring birds, ladybugs, flowers, nests,

2nd grade classes from Ruskin Elementary School monitor birds at Camp Bayou

Celebrate Urban Birds is one of many top-notch programs mentioned in the article. 

"Celebrate Urban Birds seeks to overcome barriers of involvement with science particularly among urban kids. "We hear teachers in inner cities say, "I can't bus my kids outside the city to view nature,'" says project leader Karen Purcell. "We're telling teachers, 'You don't have to go far to get your kids tuned in to nature. You can walk right outside your city door.'"

"For the students, the benefit is often a sense of envirnomental stewardship. "When people start focusing on nature outside their window or on their own city block, it makes them feel that the environment outside their windows is theirs," Purcell adds. "People can begin to know, understand, and care."

Edutopia has also collected a wonderful database of programs appropriate for teachers and group leaders: Go Green Database, a directory you can be search by topic, grade level, cost, or location -- and supplement with your contributions and comments.