Community College Students, Administrators & Faculty Participate in Russian Environmental Exchange

by Sue Stuska

from VCCA Journal, Volume 7, Number 1, Summer 1992, 38-42

In July and August, 1991, a twenty-two member American delegation spent three weeks in Russia. Among them were three community college students, an administrator and a faculty member from Virginia Highlands Community College, and an administrator from Mountain Empire Community College.

This experience was the second half of the 1991 Environmental Exchange sponsored by the United States National Park Service, the Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains Park Commission, and the U.S.-based International Arts for Peace. The Russian sponsor was the Center for Creative Initiatives for Peace of the Soviet Peace Committee.

The first half of the exchange, which took place in June and July 1991, involved twenty-two Russians traveling to the eastern United States, where they were hosted by families from south-west Virginia. Two of the community college students' families hosted Russian guests, as did four faculty and administrators. "The purpose (of this exchange) was to share environmental knowledge," stated student and hostess Marianne Dalton. "But just as important are the social aspects. Living in homes and the personal acquaintances give a deeper understanding . . . I think it is important for two of the major world powers to understand each other's lifestyles. This exchange has allowed just that" (1991, p. 1).

Students Experience Russia

In Moscow, the students were hosted by Russian families in their homes. Diverse activities included a meeting with the Moscow City Council, an environmental round-table discussion with faculty and administration at the Moscow Teacher's Training University, a trip through the Moscow Paleontological Museum, a tour of the city's Botanical Gardens, and an observation of water assays at the Institute of Criminology. The students experienced the Russian wilderness while camping and hiking at the Prioksko-Terrasny Environmental Reserve, a United Nation's International Biosphere and World Heritage site southwest of Moscow on the Oka river. This trip included a tour of a bison breeding farm and a seven-day camping trip in the wilderness surrounding the Volga River headwaters where they were transported by rowboats (Fisher, 1991).

Selection of the students for the exchange was by formal application and interviews. Their expectations for the trip were quite high. Conditions in Russia immediately before the failed coup attempt required special adaptations on the part of the American students. Food was hard to come by though the Russian hosts had hoarded the best for months in anticipation of their American guests. Housing was crowded, sleep rare, and the economy demonstrated the truth about the press reports of the scarcity of consumer products (Murphy, 1991).

Preparation for the trip included community college classes in conversational Russian and camping & hiking at Virginia Highlands. Formal and informal studies involved Russian culture and customs, equipment for low-impact backpacking and camping, and a group retreat to solidify the group's goals and objectives.

The students were integrated into the group of scientists, National Park Service personnel, and educators as influential participants. Many of them knew more Russian than the older scientists, and this talent was much sought after during the trip!

In Russia, students participated in the collection of water samples from the origin and points downstream on the Volga River. Back in Moscow, the samples were analyzed for pollutants including heavy metals as the students watched.

The American community college students participated in field experiences led by Russian educators along with Russian secondary and institute students. Leader Elena Naumov is a geography teacher; Alexander Larin teaches biology; Sergei Polozov is chairman of the zoology department under which environmental education is covered; Vladimir Koshevoi and Igor Jagarev also contributed from their educational expertise. Several of the Russian students who participated in the field experiences at Prioksko-Terrasny and the Volga also traveled to the United States; they were hosted by Community College personnel, and studied at the U.S. Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (an environmental Institute in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park). Students of both cultures, sharing the beautiful natural locations, expressed concern for wild areas in Russia and the United States. "It is our world, and we all need to be concerned," stated American student Marianne Dalton after an extensive conversation with a Russian physics student sharing the wilderness (1991, p. 2, 3). All agreed that environmental protection is necessary. "Maybe we can work on (environmental protection) laws together for international enforcement. A common law for common interests," suggested student Vanessa Crabtree (1991, p. 2).

Students were especially vocal participants in the environmental round-table discussion between the American delegation and the faculty and administration at the Moscow Pedagogical State University's Department of Zoology. Topics included the political situation in relation to the environment and the structure of environmental education at all levels. Students recounted activities and programs that had increased their awareness of environmental issues. "I feel that all of us need some kind of education on pollution" commented delegate Rebecca Blackwell; "until then, it will continue to get worse" (1991 p. 2). Russian members of the round-table encouraged suggestions from the American students; as one member of the Moscow Teacher's Training Institute faculty stated, "We are in a fire and we thank you for drops of water" (Fisher, 1991, p. 2).

The purpose of the exchange was "to identify areas of mutual environmental concern and propose cooperative actions" (Fisher, 1991, p. 1). A report was written and edited by Dr. Sharon Fisher, Coordinator of Planning and Development and Director of Institutional Research at Mountain Empire Community College. Highlights of the report follow (Fisher, 1991, p. 3-7).

Applauds

The Americans observed many conditions in Moscow and the Russian countryside which can serve as a strong foundation for preventing environmental damage which already exists in the United States.

The public transportation system within Moscow provides comprehensive and efficient mass transit to a large population through the use of subway, trolley cars, and busses.
The Russians purchase and serve food and beverages in reusable containers and have not come to rely on disposable styrofoam and paper products. We could do well to follow their example and hope they do not adopt our current practices as consumer products become more available in their country.
Littering in the city and countryside does not seem to be as large a problem as in the United States, and can serve as a basis for educating the public before this habit begins to develop.
The large green areas in Moscow and the large number of trees found among the apartment complexes adds to the beauty and quality of life of the city.
The reserve system preserves unique areas and restricts human activities to scientific research. A surrounding buffer zone restricts activities that would harm the reserve. The Prioksko - Terrasny Reserve's proximity to Moscow allows significant research regarding the effect of industrialization on the environment.

Concerns

In their discussions, the Americans and Russians expressed many concerns with existing conditions which present difficulties in developing and improving environmental education and effective land management practices.

Teaching people about the stewardship of the land for the future when they are uncertain about tomorrow is a difficult task. Economic concerns currently outweigh concerns for the environment.
Tourism in the beautiful finger-lake region of the Volga River headwaters is growing and bringing human impact that is not sustainable with current practices. Uncontrolled development could threaten this region's environment and result in the eventual decline of the camping and wilderness experience.
The vastness of the Russian Republic with concentrated population centers appears to give a 'frontier' mentality that there are more than enough lands and natural resources available to meet present and future demands.
Economic transition to a free market economy will bring an increased number of personal automobiles to congest streets and add to air pollution problems.
Environmental materials and training do not seem readily available; nature study in the schools appears to be the emphasis.
Movement from government controlled land use can accelerate resource exploitation as individuals seize or demand use of previously protected areas for farm and garden plots.
Environmental problems such as toxins and heavy metal pollution and solid waste disposal are big political and economic concerns with solutions that require much money.
Obtaining political and economic support is essential to the adequate administration of public lands.

Suggestions for Developing Environmental Education

Provide faculty of the institutes and community colleges in both countries with incentives and training to conduct field practices and excursions and incorporate interdisciplinary environmental education methods into the classroom.
Provide an American-Soviet exchange of institute and community college instructors to participate in a week-long session on environmental education methods and materials.
Compile information on prototype environmental education curriculum used in the United States in the community colleges.
Establish an information center on environmental issues in the Soviet Union to aid in curriculum development by instructors.
Establish at Moscow Teachers Training University, or another appropriate site, a database on environmental issues that is easily accessible to instructors and to the general public.
Establish environmental clubs in community colleges and institutes.

While environmental concerns were the focus of the exchange, friendships spanning the cultures and distance will remain. Two Russian faculty wrote to members of the American delegation on August 27th:

We have struggled through awful days. And then, when it seemed that all we had lived for during the last five years vanished irretrievably, when we felt all the best in our country, our people, our souls, were ruthlessly smashed by reaction, then thoughts about you made us feel stronger and brought support to our hearts. Again and again we thought about you. We recalled your faces and imagined the reflected pain in your eyes. That was your pain for us. We felt your sincere support and sympathy with us each second during those three horrible days. We felt your presence in the streets of Moscow side by side with us. You became closer endured to us during these days and we know for sure that our spiritual times will remain forever.

This unique opportunity was the first in an ongoing Environmental Exchange; Virginia Community College System students have been invited to apply for participation in the 1992 trip to Russia and to host guests in Virginia.

The report of the 1991 delegation is available from Neil Murphy at Virginia Highlands, P.O. Box 828, Abingdon, VA 24210. (703) 628-6094, FAX (703) 628-7576, PROFS VHMURPN.

Works Cited

Blackwell, R. (1991). Environmental exchange. Unpublished manuscript.

Crabtree, V. (1991). Environmental exchange report. Unpublished manuscript.

Dalton, M. (1991). Individual delegate and host report. Unpublished manuscript.

Fisher, S. (Ed.). (1991, August). USA-CCCP environmental exchange: Report of the USA delegation. (Available from Neil Murphy, VHCC, Box 828, Abingdon, VA 24210).

Murphy, N. F. (1991, October). "Virginia community colleges involvement, USSR - USA environmental exchange, summer of 1991." Paper presented at the Virginia Community College Annual Convention, Richmond, VA.

Sue Stuska is an adjunct faculty member for horse management at Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon, Virginia. She is completing a doctorate in education at Virginia Tech in Equine Curriculum. A member of VCCA for six years, she credits her husband, Neil Murphy, with coordination of the Russian exchanges. This summer will mark the couple's third environmental expedition to Russia with students.