A new program from the National Geographic Society will offer today’s youth a valuable resource to increase their geographic knowledge and embrace the world around them. ESRI is a proud sponsor of My Wonderful World, which promotes geographic awareness to K–12 students and provides tools to help teachers and parents be involved in the learning process. The program’s Web site will launch May 2, 2006.
“Geography matters to everyone, whether they consciously realize it or not,” says Jack Dangermond, ESRI president. “When we better understand how nature, people, and businesses relate, we can make better decisions. ESRI’s mission is to build software that helps people see the patterns, find the relationships, and understand more clearly this wonderful world we share. ESRI is proud to support the National Geographic Society’s My Wonderful World program in their efforts to improve geographic literacy among our nation’s youth.”
The My Wonderful World Web site is at the heart of the campaign, offering something for everyone. The site provides valuable resources that give youth a better understanding of the world around them including suggestions for outdoor family activities, links to geography games and online adventures for kids and teenagers, classroom materials for educators, global IQ tests, and a host of other tools.
“Geographic illiteracy impacts our economic well-being, impacts our relationships with other nations and the environment, and isolates us from our world,” says John Fahey, National Geographic Society president and CEO. “Geography is what helps us make sense of our world by showing the connections between people and places. Without geography, our young people are not ready to face the challenges of the increasingly interconnected and competitive world of the 21st century.”
ESRI is one of the business, nonprofit, and education leaders sponsoring the campaign. Others include 4-H, American Federation of Teachers, Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks, Asia Society, Association of American Geographers, Committee for Economic Development, Council on Competitiveness, iEARN-USA, Lindblad, National Basketball Association, National Council for Geographic Education, National Council of La Raza, National Council for Social Studies, National PTA, Sesame Workshop, the United Nations Foundation, and the World Affairs Councils of America.
To learn more about the My Wonderful World program and to start taking advantage of the rich features, visit www.mywonderfulworld.org.