Minnesota Junior Master Naturalist Program
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Children are spending increasingly less time outdoors and are often failing to develop an appreciation and connection with nature. This has implications for children's health as well as their knowledge about science, the environment, and the world. In the long term this also impacts the broad public awareness and understanding necessary to ensure long-term protection and stewardship of our environment and natural resources. In order to help reverse this trend the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are partnering to expand and further develop an after-school program that provides outdoor, science-based educational opportunities for fourth and fifth grade students, particularly in underserved areas, to learn about the ecology and natural history of their schoolyards, neighborhoods, nearby natural areas, and the state.
$365,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to expand the junior naturalist after-school programs. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.
Click on "Work Plan" under "Project Details".
Click on "Work Plan" under "Project Details".