Nature in the City
Program Overview
Baltimore Woods Nature Center's multi-faceted Nature in the City Program introduces K-6 students to the ecology of their urban neighborhoods through a series of classroom and green-space lessons and the music of Billy B. Brennan. Developed for schools in Syracuse, NY, the program provides the opportunity for students to:
• Make or strengthen their connections to the natural world.
• Think critically through hands-on/minds-on activities that link state standards to their surroundings.
• Develop sensible stewardship for their neighborhood green-spaces.
Elements of the program can be adapted to other urban locations.
Bringing Nature in the City to your school
Students explore Furnace Brook in Elmwood Park.
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Baltimore Woods is interested in expanding NITC to more elementary schools within the Syracuse and Auburn City School Districts. The first year of the program includes three 60-90 minute environmental education programs to every K-6 class in participating schools, including guided walks through city parks. In addition, there is an option for students to attend a performance of the Nature in the City Show by Billy B. Brennan, and Billy B's Nature in the City CD is given to each school. Teachers participating in the program have access through BWNC's staff to their collection of animal artifacts: including mounts and pelts. If you are interested in bringing NITC to your school please contact Katie Mulverhill, our School Group Coordinator at katie@baltimorewoods.org or call (315) 673-1350 for program details, costs, and availability.
Billy B performing with students from Roberts School. |
NITC Teacher Participant Comments: "It has been wonderful to take students to the park, and the materials brought in have given the children first hand knowledge."
"The programs have had such a positive impact on my classroom and the learning that takes place there. Students are motivated to learn and take pleasure and pride in the things they learn about." |
Funding Nature in the City
Students study frog metamorphosis in the classroom.
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Nature in the City wins Awards
In 2004 Nature in the City won the prestigious U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Quality Award for protecting and enhancing environmental quality. The Museums for America Award from the Federal Institute of Museums and Library Serivces (2004) Most recently, in 2009, NITC received the Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet Award from the Syracuse Commission for Women, Mayor's Office.
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Support for Nature in the City comes from the Syracuse City School District, and the following corporate partners: Lockheed Martin, SRC, Byrne Dairy, O'Brien and Gere, Bond Schoeneck and King, and the Central NY Community Foundation.
If you are interested in sponsoring the Nature in the City Program at a Syracuse or Auburn City School District Elementary School please contact Patty Weisee, the Executive Director of BWNC at (315) 673-1350 or patty@baltimorewoods.org.
The History of Nature in the City
In 2002, BWNC launched the Nature in the City (NITC) Program. The program includes a musical song and dance show and a series of lessons.
The show was created for BWNC by the Natural Song and Dance Man, Billy B. Brennan and was based on a teacher-articulated need to showcase the ecology of urban neighborhoods. It premiered at Syracuse Central School District's Roberts and Elmwood Elementary Schools, in October, 2003.
The NITC lessons were piloted at Roberts School in the 2002/2003 school year. The purpose of this part of the program were to bring nature-based lessons that would meet school curricula into the classroom and nearby Elmwood Park. The program now includes a year-long series of on-site lessons with BWNC educators, as well as a Billy B show. The list of current NITC schools is as follows: Dr. Weeks, Huntington, Seymour, Elmwood, LeMoyone, Meachem, Salem Hyde, H.W. Smith, Ed Smith, Blodgett, Roberts.
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BWNC Educator, Matt Kauffman, discusses marsh ecology with 5th grade students.
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Students journaling along Corcoran High School's new Science Trail.
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