East Texas Arboretum Education Program Summary
The Arboretum has served, and continues to serve, all the schools districts in Henderson County and other schools districts as well. These include Navarro, Van Zandt, Anderson, Smith, Kaufman, Dallas and Rockwall counties.
We estimate that we do educational field trips for approximately 2,500 students each year. This count does not include classes or groups that come out on their own. Each year the Arboretum also serves groups of students who are confined to wheelchairs and other students who need special care during their visit. We currently have 6 schools that have special days here with these handicapped students and the number grows each year.
Mrs. Linda Kenneaster, our Education Director, has recruited a group of teachers from the Retired Teachers Association. They are trained on our curriculum by Mrs. Kenneaster and then paired with a helper before they conduct the program on their own. Groups who have their own programs use the Arboretum for work in other areas including art, photography, history and science.
The curriculum is age appropriate for the day. A typical field trip for a second grade class would begin with a mile hike on our nature trail system. During the hike, depending on the time of the year, the students may get to identify the cinnamon ferns or wood ferns that grow along the creek bed under the 115 foot suspension bridge. They learn about pitcher plants at the bog overlook and they smell honeysuckle that grows along the creek under our wooden foot bridge. They will then rest at the patio furniture sets for some respite and then continue along the trail. Some days, they may spot ducks on the pond by the Two Doug Bridge, identify raccoon paw prints on the creek bed, or see a beaver dam that is almost within reach.
Many children have experiences like this for the first time, even watching a chameleon turn from brown to green or a hawk swooping down on its prey. These observances are exciting to students who have little interaction with the outdoors. Every day can be different according to the nature of the day!
After the hike, the group is broken up in to smaller numbers and they each go to a station. One station may be the Little Red House, where they will learn about attending school in the early 1800’s and read a story about nature or history.
The next station may have them walk through the gardens, where they learn some simple tree and plant identification. The Wofford House, the Windmill pound and the kitchen garden are also areas which demonstrate about life in the 1800’s. Depending on the age of the students and curriculum of the day, the students may be doing a craft or curriculum related game. In summary, we try to provide worthwhile instruction, in an outdoor environment, that is not usually emphasized in the public school system. After the students have completed the Arboretum’s programs, they usually take a break for a picnic lunch and then play time for about an hour. During that hour they enjoy free play and or some type of organized game. As you may be aware, outdoor play is very important for children of all ages. The past several years we have been booking groups with as many as 100 students at a time, along with parents and other siblings who attend.
Our proposed expansion for the playground will enhance our current program while providing a safe, outdoor, green space for our students and guests. Ultimately, we hope to become a model for other organizations in our area. Our aim with this project is to make the Arboretum an enjoyable and meaningful experience for all children and parents. Our current play garden arrangement was not built to manage such large groups or meet the needs of special needs children. If people get the chance, donate to a charity to support projects like this more into the future so special needs children have the opportunities they deserve. This might help services similar expand their operations to accommodate larger groups.
As stated previously, we currently provide field trips for all the surrounding counties in East Texas and afterwards the children enjoy much needed playtime at our play garden. The equipment there is in severe need of being replaced. We also have a large number of children with disabilities that come on these outings, as well as visit the Arboretum with their families. While we have trails that are handicapped accessible, we do not currently have handicapped accessible playground equipment. In addition to play ground areas for access, we would like to provide raised beds that would give access to the children in wheelchairs so they may touch, feel, and smell the sensory gardens along with the other children.
Field trips to the Arboretum provide a unique experience for students in that nature is intertwined with history in a hands-on environment where they become a part of what they are learning. Educators are now recognizing that students have many different learning styles that contribute to how they process information. Unlike the traditional school environment, the Arboretum education program caters to all students regardless of their learning style.
Disabled children show higher academic achievement, higher self-esteem and better social skills when with other children than when they are separated. Non-disabled students who play and learn with disabled students increase in their self-concept, tolerance, self-worth and a better understanding of other people. At a time when bullying is widespread, children with differences, interacting together, tend to change their attitudes and sensitivity toward those who are different or need extra assistance.
In addition to providing an all access play garden area for the children, we would like to add a few work-out stations for adults. This would be a wonderful enhancement for working parents and caregivers to also have some physical activity while their children are doing the same; making play a family event in a safe environment for everyone.