The Douglas-Hart Nature Center of Mattoon has received a $1,500 grant from the Mattoon Area CommunityWorks Fund to implement a program aimed at training early childhood educators in the field of environmental education. The Growing Up WILD program will provide educators with the information and tools they need to incorporate environmental education curriculum into their classrooms and engage young learners in the fields of science, outdoor life, and the environment.
Growing Up WILD is a nationally accredited program that provides educators with access to complete lesson plans that incorporate early childhood components such as developmentally appropriate early childhood activities, subject information, crafts, games, songs and literacy components. Jennifer Day Tariq is the education director for the Douglas-Hart Nature Center and state coordinator for Project WILD. She will be presenting workshops to area early childhood educators on ways to incorporate outdoor learning and science activities into their curriculum through the Growing Up WILD program.
The Mattoon Area CommunityWorks Fund is one of the many grant-making funds managed by the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation. For more information, contact Janeen Emory-Kolb at 217-342-4988 or by e-mail (jemorykolb@enrichingourcommunity.org.
(Pictured: Mattoon Area Community Foundation board member Ned Hoppin presented Jennifer Day Tariq (Education Director, Douglas-Hart Nature Center) with the $1,500 check from the Mattoon Area CommunityWorks fund for the Growing Up WILD education program.)
