Nature Education
>
Nature Education
Summer Programs
Grange Insurance Audubon Center’s
Urban Conservation Crew Program
Changing Lives…
“You have enriched the lives of
my son JaRon Chapman and my nephew Owen Chapman. This program
impacted them on an intellectual level, environmental and
spiritual level. Both Owen and JaRon included the Audubon
camp and the Neighborhood House Bus in their dinner prayers.
Their lives will be changed forever.” Charlotte Chapman
The Grange Insurance Audubon Center in
partnership with COSI, the Columbus Urban League, the Boys
& Girls Club, and Central Community House host a six-week,
five-days-a-week interdisciplinary program for Columbus Public
School students each summer. The summer program emphasizes
Ohio Academic Content Standards. In addition, students gain
awareness, knowledge, and skills related to conservation issues.
Another objective is to empower them to feel in control of
their lives and part of their community.
“We want to teach the students about
the environmental that they live in and empower them to make
a difference in their own neighborhood,” said Grange
Insurance Audubon Center Director, Heather Starck. The Urban
Conservation Crew students join in numerous activities during
the six weeks. The students participate in field study programs
in their local Important Bird Area (IBA). They work with conservation
professionals, participate in nature art projects and meet
community role models.
Jerome Ringo, Chairman of The National
Wildlife Federation came to Ohio to visit with the students
in last year’s program. He is the first African-American
to head a major conservation group. Isis Vann summed up the
morning with Mr. Ringo, “ He is very deep and he said
a lot of stuff I liked. But I especially liked the part that
we are his role models because he sees in us the ability to
help the earth.”
Our hope is to continue some form of this
program every year to grow a corps of students right here
from this community that are excited about conservation and
nature. So by the time the center opens, they can be involved
in teaching their peers,” said Starck.
|
