FRIENDS OF EDGEWOOD NATURAL PRESERVE
|
FRIENDS OF EDGEWOOD NATURAL PRESERVE
|
|
|
SPRING 2004 SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS By Carol Hankermeyer
The interesting challenge of leading homeschool groups is adapting the material and field trip format to accommodate a wide age range, from kindergarten to high school in some cases, with a few preschoolers tagging along with parents. Instead of the homogeneous classroom unit, docents must teach to family units, who prefer not to be separated by age. The docents’ ability to adapt to this teaching situation was remarkable. Outreach hosted 3 homeschool groups with a total of 75 students. One public school we served this spring was Highlands Elementary from San Mateo. Four second grade classes, a total of 84 students, were required to complete a unit on learning plant structure and local wildflowers. For their field trip, all classes chose to visit the Edgewood serpentine grassland in April to identify and draw flowers. We were impressed with their enthusiasm and their ability to recognize the plants by name. The teachers and parents of all visiting schools were extremely appreciative of the docents and inspired by the uniqueness and beauty of Edgewood. And I can’t say enough in gratitude and praise of those dedicated and talented docents who helped me lead these field trips: John Allen, Toni Corelli, Barbara Erny, Herb Fischgrund, Paul Heiple, Pat Lisin, Pat Oren, and Jan Simpson. If we only had more or you, we could expand the program and invite more schools to participate. It is crucial for children to experience and value such natural treasures as Edgewood offers to ensure such places will be preserved and protected in perpetuity. If the spirit moves you to use your talents in leading children’s field trips, there is a great need for you. Please contact me through Schools Outreach on the Edgewood website, www.friendsofedgewood.org. |
|
An
unusually high percentage of homeschoolers participated in the Schools Outreach
program this season. In fact, nearly half of the requests for hikes came from
that education sector. I speculate that flexibility with scheduling and with
meeting the state standards of education is the reason they are able to arrange
field trips much more easily than public schools.