Page 30 - Caring_for_your_community

Case Study

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION, MORRIS ARBORETUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, USA.

Description: Through this programme local schools develop a A student at Wissahickon Charter
lasting relationship and partnership with the Morris Arboretum.
The arboretum offers transport, free entry, tours and other ©School observes migrating birds
activities in the hope that teachers will become confident C laire Sundquist
using its grounds as a teaching space, through repeated visits.
To cater to the curricular needs of students, visits have had a Audience research: Arboretum staff evaluate their programme:
variety of themes. For example, a career symposium for 10th 1) informally through debriefing meetings with schoolteachers
grade students involved people from green industries discussing at the end or beginning of the school year, and 2) through
their own career paths, and a visit from a vocational school administering electronic or paper surveys to schools.
involved exploring several aspects of the arboretum such as The informal interviews collect anecdotal evidence which
culinary arts in the café and the development of a new building, is helpful for developing a rapport with the teachers and
to complement the subject areas covered at the school. The an understanding of the programme strengths and where
longest lasting relationship is with a partner school which improvements are needed. This is further analysed through
has now been visiting for seven years. This year alone the the survey results.
programme brought in 735 students.
Funding: Transport and garden entry are paid for by the
Focus of the programme: The focus is on inner city, Title 1 arboretum through grant funding from foundations and
schools – that is, schools which receive extra funding due major donors.
to having a high proportion of students from low-income
backgrounds. Children attending these schools often do Challenges: A major challenge was convincing the garden’s
not have access to green space and are thus unaware of fundraising department that they need to find funding for
our reliance on nature. This programme seeks to reveal our existing programmes like the Partners for Education rather than
connection with nature to teachers and students alike, in ways new ones. Another difficulty came from gaining the trust of
that also allow them to mix with professionals and learn about teachers to allow them to hand over control and let arboretum
related careers, so that those who are interested will be more staff and volunteers do the teaching. This is resolved through
aware of the choices open to them. Further, the programme repeated visits.
supports the science education of younger children, as
elementary teachers are unlikely to be experts in plant science.
The arboretum’s mission extends to people, plants and place,
and this programme accordingly creates a lasting relationship
between students, teachers, the arboretum and plants and
staff within it.

Engagement approach: The programme was initiated when a
regular visitor of the garden suggested that a teacher he knew
should bring his class to visit the arboretum. The visit was
offered free of charge, to foster a new relationship with the
school. This one initiative evolved into an official programme,
involving other schools with whom the arboretum already had
contact. To ensure the schools’ needs are met, visits are tailored
to teachers’ specifications through consultation prior to visits,
and plans for the day are based around the curriculum. Once
students and teachers are confident within the arboretum they
are able to have more control over the content of visits and
use the space as they choose. To ensure they are sufficiently
engaging, activities, especially for younger children, are hands-
on – for example, during the careers symposium, students were
able to have a go at doing the green jobs.

Students from Wissahickon Charter
School discover the importance of

©wetlands to groundwater quality
C laire Sundquist

28 CARING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY | A MANUAL FOR BOTANIC GARDENS