The Deering Estate at Cutler-Living Classroom

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

The Estate has a long history of award winning educational programming in Miami-Dade County. In 1999, soon after the Estate reopened to the public from Hurricane Andrew renovations, the staff embarked on a unique curriculum development program in partnership with the Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation. As a result of this partnership, the Estate implemented a five-module, science and social studies themed curriculum. The Estate’s educational program has undergone substantial progress and changes. All lesson plans are linked to Sunshine State/FCAT standards. A 30-week, six-module, science, eco-art, and history curriculum was developed and implemented for homeschooled youth and parent educators. The same curriculum is offered as an outreach program to public and private schools. The overall goal of the Living Classroom is to foster environmental stewardship and raise public awareness among youth, parents, and educators on prevalent community environmental issues through innovative, hands-on, and multidisciplinary activities that are fun and engaging.