Congratulations to Thomas Whaley’s third grade and Christine Bruno’s fourth grade combined “Book Buddy” group from Canaan Elementary School in Patchogue. They are the winners of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society’s “Eco-Challenge 2010,” an Island-wide student competition aimed at inspiring civic responsibility and teaching young people to become proactive about local environmental issues. Students were asked to plan a campaign that would teach peers, family and friends how to protect Long Island’s drinking water.

Inspired to make a difference, Whaley and Bruno’s students set out to visit Brookhaven Township’s Fish Thicket Preserve, a 100-acre nature preserve in Patchogue, where they learned, first-hand, the reality of preserving open spaces to protect Long Island’s drinking water supply. Then the students proposed a dual initiative campaign plan: Distribute hand-crafted informational brochures during a neighborhood door-to-door campaign and during an “Eco-Night” event at their school where they will discuss with parents and the community what they have recently learned about drinking water contamination and what can be done to avoid future pollution.

The runner up is Kristin Gennari’s fourth grade class from Lincoln Avenue Elementary School in Sayville. They proposed to partner with Lincoln Avenue School’s student government to announce to students a daily environmental “tip of the day,” disseminate informational flyers, hold an Earth Day event, participate in debates, and post environmental videos on the community’s website.

"Students were able to make the connection and understand the difference between water running down a sewer drain versus simply seeping into the soil in the forest without pollutants." Christine Bruno, Canaan Elementary School, Patchogue, NY

"We started this project as a way to incorporate more content area material that was based on the New York State Learning Standards. What we ended up with was a fabulous experience that engaged our students in internet based research. Our 3rd and 4th grade Book Buddies became experts at navigating the Bridge to the Barrens website. All of its links aided in further research that helped them explore ways to protect and preserve their own local environment. " Thomas Whaley, Canaan Elementary School, Patchogue, NY.

Patchogue-Medford School District
Mr. Thomas Whaley and his 3rd grade students - Canaan Elementary School, Patchogue, NY

Mrs. Christine Bruno and her 4th grade students - Canaan Elementary School, Patchogue, NY

Sayville School District
Ms. Cynthia Dwyer and her students of Sayville School District's Elementary Enrichment Program - Cherry Avenue Elementary School, Sayville, NY

Mrs. Kristin Gennari and her 4th grade students – Lincoln Avenue Elementary School, Sayville, NY