ATP Presents Building Bridges Environmental Education Program at Ari Guiragos Minassian Armenian School

Earlier this month, Southern California representatives of Armenia Tree Project were hosted by the Ari Guiragos Minassian Armenian School in Santa Ana.

Anahit Gharibyan and Hermine Mahmouzian were greeted by Principal Kohar Zaher and Armenian teacher Ani Geloian, along with students from the 5th and 6th grade classes. The school recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and the visit was part of ATP's Building Bridges education program to connect diasporan students with their environmental heritage.

Anahit Gharibyan--new to California but a long-time ATP employee in Yerevan--spoke with the students about the reasons behind the founding of ATP in 1994 and some of the early experiences of the organization, as well as some of the environmental challenges facing Armenia today. Each student was presented with a copy of ATP's colorful Building Bridges newsletter for children.

"The Minassian School students were very knowledgeable about Armenia and quite enthusiastic in their questions and answers about ATP and environmental issues," noted Gharibyan after the school assembly.

The 6th grade class will be traveling to Armenia in June and will be met by ATP staff in order to plant tree seedlings and spend time meeting peers of the same age from a local school.

Slideshow: Five Years of ATP's Environmental Education Program

By Alla Berberyan

Environmental education is one of ATP’s core programs to prepare the nation’s youth to become the next generation of environmental stewards. Every year, ATP hosts hundreds of children and youth at its Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental Education Center at Karin Nursery--often along with their parents and teachers--to take part in interactive environmental lessons and hands-on activities.

During their visits, guests take an educational tour accompanied by nursery specialists who give them an interesting and complete explanation of each and every tree and plant. Children often give environmental performances in Karin and present the environmental activities that they conduct in their schools.

ATP’s education program integrates environmental themes and practical activities throughout the schools in all of Armenia’s regions, thus raising the environmental consciousness and responsibility of the population. Already more than 1,000 teachers have been trained to use ATP’s Plant an Idea, Plant a Tree manual in their classroom.

Children from Ohanyan School in Yerevan organized a clean-up activity in their school neighborhood

Children from Ohanyan School cleaning their school neighborhood.

Hovnanian School in New Jersey and School #168 in Yerevan coming together to plant trees

On May 2 students from Hovnanian School in New Jersey came together with students from School #168 in Yerevan within the framework of ATP’s Building Bridges Project and planted trees around the area of School #168. At the beginning of the event the students introduced themselves, played name games, and learned about each other.

This was followed by a short training by Arthur Harutunyan (ATP head monitor) about the techniques of planting trees. At the end of the event, the students from School #168 showed the Hovnanian students around their school area and spent some time together. We hope that the communication between students will continue through this ATP blog.

Students from School #168 showing

Hovnanian students around their school area

Planting trees together

Students getting to know each other