Garden Awarded Funds for Outdoor Education
The Garden received $1,600 from the Sangamon County Community Foundation and $900 from the Rotary Club of Springfield South for a total of $2,500. This money will pay for buses to transport ten groups of 30 children in autumn 2010, and again in spring 2011. It will also cover the per-pupil charge normally assessed to groups to cover staff time.
Cuts to District 186 budgets have severely reduced funds available for field trips, meaning that fewer children are being brought the Garden. The Garden’s educator, Betsy Irwin, initiated a proposal last winter that would supplement field trip funding.
In the words of the Garden’s funding proposal, “Our goal is to extend the Garden’s outreach to underserved, academically at-risk children in Springfield…. Current research indicates that enjoyable outdoor experiences in early years lead to adults with a stronger sense of appreciation for nature.” The outdoor education activities are keyed to the Illinois Early Learning Standards developed by the Illinois State Board of Education.
