Amtchat Edwards

WETA Hometown Hero May 2007. Amtchat Edwards is outreach and education coordinator at the Student Conservation Association.

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Amtchat Edwards, outreach and education coordinator at the Student Conservation Association (SCA), is the focus of a month-long WETA Hometown Heroes profile airing in May on WETA TV 26.

WETA selected Edwards for his commitment to inform youth about environmental conservation through educational programs in the District.

Edwards, a native of Washington, D.C., spends his time teaching area youth on the environment and what they can do to make a difference. Edwards’ works supports the SCA’s mission to engage the youth in hands-on service to the environment, building the next generation of conservation leaders. His programs include information on water conservation, the water cycle, plant identification, erosion control, predator/prey relationships, the Anacostia River and local birds.

“Rather than focusing on the doom and gloom of the environment, I try to make people feel good and enjoy themselves while they learn about it,” said Edwards. “That way the environment stays fun as opposed to scary. It’s amazing to see that flash when the kids finally understand that everything they do impacts the environment in a positive or negative way.”

Edwards makes sure that the thousands of elementary and high school students he reaches annually learn about conservation through games and hands-on activities. Edwards works with students on weekdays and weekends throughout the year.

During the school year, Edwards promotes the program in local high schools. He also leads outdoor field trips to remove exotic species from local surroundings, clean trash along waterways and plant trees. Each summer, Edwards and the SCA open the Urban Treehouse at Anacostia Park providing a safe and welcome environment for inner-city elementary students to explore nature.

Assisting with the SCA Conservation Leadership Corps, Edwards inspires area youth to volunteer on weekends, learning though field trips and outdoor lessons, including weekend camping excursions, building trails, restoring river and lakefront environments, and conserving habitats. Edwards, along with the students, also participates in Earth Day and National Public Lands Day events by planting trees, and removing trash and invasive plants.

The SCA is a nationwide force of high school and college volunteers who are committed to protecting and preserving the environment. SCA members meet environmental challenges and gain hand-on experience through internships, conservation jobs and crew experiences. They complete projects in every conservation discipline – from archaeology to zoology and everything in between. The SCA’s Mid-Atlantic/Southeast regional office, which is located in Arlington, Virginia, oversees programs in the District, Maryland, Virginia and 13 other states throughout the country.

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