Our Mission

"Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives." -- Thomas Berry Who -- 5th and 6th grade students who have an interest in being involved with environmental education projects and topics. These students must maintain a grade average in all subjects of 85 and maintain an outstanding conduct evaluation. Where and When -- We are planning a monthly meetings on the last Monday of each month from 3:PM to 4:PM in the Science Lab. Purpose-- environmental and placed-based education -- One of our main purposes will be to extend learning outside of the classroom and the scheduled school day through environmental education topics and projects within our neighborhood and community. We have a working relationship with Connemara Conservancy, the new Montgomery Farm development and the City of Allen. Environmental Education as stated by the Finland Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (Last Child in the Woods) "The core of learning is not in the information...being predigested from the outside, but in the interaction between a child and the environment." Placed-based education as described by David Sobel is focused on "learning directly within the local community of a student." Placed-based education as shared by Richard Louv in Last Child in the Woods, "...placed-based education increases students' sense of stewardship and environmental consciousness and adds to their sense of attachment to place." Goals- To get children outside observing, exploring and experiencing the natural world. Along with children we want parents, families, and our school community to take an active interest in our children’s natural explorations. From E.O. Wilson, Naturalist "Most children have a bug period, and I never outgrew mine. Hands-on experience at the critical time, not systematic knowledge, is what counts in the making of a naturalist. Better to be an untutored savage for a while, not to know the names or anatomical detail. Better to spend long stretches of time just searching and dreaming."

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