The importance of environmental education in our youth has been widely accepted and studied internationally.  Studies show that youth exposed to environmental education have heightened imaginations, enhanced critical and creative thinking skills, promotes tolerance and understanding of different point of views and cultures, combats "nature deficit disorder", encouraged healthy lifestyles, enables students to make connections between social, ecological, economic, cultural and political issues, and the most important benefit is it is FUN learning experiences that fosters positive environmental behaviors.

Spring Environmental Camps follow state CORE curriculum and Next Generation Science Standards.  Traditionally, students would come to the Boone County Environmental and Nature Center but due to the COVID-19 pandemic these in-person day-camps were cancelled and students were switched to at-home learning through platforms such as Google Classroom.  In an effort to continue to reach these students and provide environmental education with at-home interactive lessons, the traditional field trip was switched to an online platform.

Even during a very difficult time for our society, Roughly 950 students, teachers, and parents participated in the online field trip.  Due to Boone County Schools closing 1-week earlier than expected a few schools who wanted to participate were unable to, but plan to in the future if they are still unable to come to the Nature Center in the upcoming year or have requested the field trip be available for both 4th and 5th grade in 2021. 

Teacher & Student Comments:

"My students really enjoyed it.  One even took her mom into their yard looking for holes in trees where squirrels or other wildlife may life.  The student even sent me "Virtual" violet pictures for Teacher Appreciation."

"The google class was extremely helpful for NTI.  The kids enjoyed it."

"This is amazing and fun to explore!"