The Green Center, a center for outdoor environmental education and the arts located in University City, has been named the first recipient of the Harriet Woods Award by the University City Education Foundation (UCEF).
UCEF has been designated as the recipient of memorial gifts for Ms. Woods, a former City Councilmember in University City, State Senator, and Lieutenant Governor of the State of Missouri. The Harriet Woods Award is designed to provide funding for innovative programs within the School District of University City.
The Green Center plans to use the award funds for a new environmental education program, Connecting With Nature, which takes middle school students into its 30-acre outdoor learning spaces to engage in science and arts-integrated activities. Brittany Wood Middle School is within walking distance of The Green Center where the Connecting With Nature program will be held for two one-week sessions of five days each. Program activities engage the young people in documenting nature using creative writing, descriptions in prose and poetry, journaling, sketchbook drawing and photography. Visiting artists, including a professional writer and photographer will help guide the students in creating art that reflects their personal observations of the natural world. Each of the expected 30 participants will create a portfolio of his or her work. The Center hopes that these students will become mentors to other students, sharing their work and encouraging other students to experience the outdoors. Organizers also hope that the experience will lead to the formation of an after-school enrichment club for middle school students.
The Green Center has been given $5000.00 for the Connecting With Nature program which will kick off this summer. University City School District students who have completed 6th Grade during the 2010 - 2011 academic school year may apply to participate. Applications are available at The Green Center |
