NatureFest

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

NatureFest is an environmental education field day started in 2015 by Hennepin County and the Three Rivers Park District to increase capacity for environmental education and meet the needs of underserved youth. For the 260 fifth grade students who attended, NatureFest provided a rare opportunity to engage in a high-quality, outdoor experience. Held at the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park on the Mississippi River, NatureFest learning stations featured activities like wading into the river to collect organisms to assess water quality, fishing, exploring ecosystems, and pledging to take action. Teachers at both participating schools reported that field trips are often inaccessible because of funding, so offering the event for free made attendance possible. For some of the students who attended, NatureFest was their first field trip. NatureFest received raving reviews from students and teachers. Nearly 90 percent of students said they want to keep learning about the environment and that they believe they can make a difference in what happens to the environment. Teachers reported that the field trip offered a valuable experience, taught to important education standards, and provided a rare chance for their students to be respected, trusted and engaged in hands-on, educational and fun learning opportunities.