Wildlife Photograph

New school year begins soon

Saturday August 07, 2010
Last year's field trips big success


The 2009-2010 school year was fantastic year for Science Discovery Program. Over 3,500 students participated in our hands-on, interactive field trips. All of our programs are grade-specific and tailored to meet the education standards established by the State of Tennessee and Knox County. In addition, the Science Discovery Program is designed to support classroom learning to create an educational opportunity that allows students to see the pages of their text books come to life.

Unlike many environmental education centers, Ijams is proud to offer scholarships to schools with significant financial need. Bus fees, field trip charges and other costs incurred by traveling off school property continue to challenge teachers to find quality, affordable learning experiences. By providing these scholarships, Ijams Nature Center is able to provide field trips for groups that might otherwise lack sufficient funding to do so.

Science Discovery Programs are available to students ranging from pre-kindergarten through high school. During the 2009-2010 school year, 89 percent of students were in elementary school (grades K-5). Pre-kindergarten groups represented 4 percent of participants and home-school and high school groups each represented 3 percent of participating students. Middle school groups accounted for only 1 percent of students attending our programs.

Overall, the year was a terrific success, and teacher evaluations have expressed overwhelming support for our environmental education programs. With the help of a dedicated corps of volunteers, Ijams Nature Center is committed to providing learning opportunities that connect children with the natural world. So while the delighted sounds of summer camp still ring in our ears, it is with excitement and enthusiasm that we look forward to the new school year.

Call us today to book your field trip!

- By Jennifer Moore, Education Program Officer

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