Discovery Montessori SchoolOur Mission is to inspire our children to become passionate

lifelong learners and responsible world citizens, in a challenging and nurturing academic environment firmly

rooted in Montessori principles.

Youth Philanthropy Initiative 2011-2012

Conservation & the Environment

Youth Philanthropy

What is it?

Youth Philanthropy is the donation of time, energy or resources, including money, by children and youth towards philanthropic causes. Youth philanthropy educates young people about social change in order to identify community problems and design the most appropriate solutions.

Youth Philanthropy

What else is it?

Youth Philanthropy can also be defined as anything young people do to make the world around them a better place. Youth Philanthropy is, at the broadest level, youth giving of their time, talents and treasure. In doing so, students learn the answer to deeper questions, such as, “What do I care about and Why?”

Youth Philanthropy

What is the difference between Charity and Philanthropy?

Charity refers to the relief of suffering while Philanthropy is the seeking out of the root causes of social problems and solving them. Charity is for today; philanthropy is forever.

Youth Philanthropy

Why at Discovery?

We hope that through both local community and global community service, Discovery students will learn to become Leaders and Agents of Change in their local and global communities.

Discovering Philanthropy

In 2010, The Discovering Philanthropy program was launched at DMS to provide a wonderful enrichment to our children’s authentic Montessori experience, one that would awaken the power we all have to make a difference in the world.

Last year the students of DMS, through the Discovering Philanthropy program, gifted $1300.00 to the Adopt-A-Rainforest program and dedicated it to the Maya Biosphere project in Guatemala.

DMS Elementary students participating in an Art Exchange and Videoconference with elementary students living in the Maya

Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala. 

Partnerships 2011-2012The Rainforest Alliance

White Oak Conservation Center

The Rainforest Alliance Partnership

School-wide Rainforest Alliance Curriculum Science Unit which will culminate at the May Day Festival.

Elementary students will produce artwork to exchange with students living in the rainforest of the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala.

Videoconference with the students in Guatemala.

White Oak Conservation Center

The White Oak Conservation Center conserves and sustains some of the earth’s rarest wild animals through innovative training, research, education, breeding and field programs that contribute to the survival of wildlife in nature.

a globally integrated conservation initiative....

The White Oak Partnership

Organic Endangered Species Chocolate Bars certified by the Rainforest Alliance will be sold all year long in the DMS office to raise capital for the Youth Philanthropy Initiative. Money collected will be donated by Discovery to fund the White Oak Okapi Conservation Project and the continued support of the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala through the Rainforest Alliance, Adopt-A-Rainforest Program.

Tuesday, November 1st: Elementary Field Study. Elementary students and faculty will enjoy a day of study in the field with scientists and researchers at the prestigious White Oak Conservation Center. As part of this day of study, students will have an up close encounter with the Okapi - an endangered species of rainforest giraffe, and the focus of our philanthropic work this year.

Okapi Conservation Projecthttp://www.okapiconservation.org/

The Okapi Conservation Project is located within the Ituri Forest, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the most biologically diverse country in Africa.  The Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) was initiated by White Oak in 1987 to conserve the okapi in the wild while preserving the biological and cultural dynamics of the Ituri Forest. A flagship species, the okapi serves as an ambassador representing the incredible diversity of species found in the region.

The White Oak Partnership

November: Skype with The Congo! Students will Skype with lead researchers and scientists working in the field on the Okapi Conservation Project in Africa.

November 16th: Family Endangered Species Chocolate Campaign. DMS families will have the opportunity to purchases boxes of ES chocolates to sell to friends, family, and coworkers just in time for the holiday season!!! All proceeds will further benefit our Youth Philanthropy Initiative.

Golden Bead Society members will have a unique opportunity to visit the ultra-exclusive White Oak Conservation Center for a private event and priority access. Annual Fund details will be coming home this week.

Visit our Facebook page to see our Faculty during their Summer Retreat in preparation for a year of Accreditations!

Discovery Montessori SchoolThe Rainforest Alliance

White Oak Conservation CenterAn elite environmental education experience.