JOLIET, Ill. — For many years, University of Illinois Extension and Extension Master Gardener and Master Naturalist volunteers have brought youth from six Joliet District 86 schools to the outdoors at no cost through the Kids n Nature program. A longtime supporter of this project is ExxonMobil, which recently awarded $4,000 to continue supporting this unique nature immersion program for fourth graders in the Joliet community.
“The original STEM is actual ‘stems’: the outdoors. Outdoor education involves all aspects of STEM programming, and it is a great foundation onto which other topics can be layered,” said Nancy Kuhajda, Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “We are grateful to ExxonMobil for their continued support and commitment to STEM outreach in our local community.”
The ExxonMobil grant funds the Kids n Nature program, an immersive experience offered after school and during the summer for fourth-grade students. The program is a joint partnership between Illinois Extension, Joliet District 86 grade schools, and Joliet Park District’s Pilcher Park. Two eight-week sessions are run in the spring and fall, with each school meeting once a week after school. The program also runs a 10-session, five-week summer camp during summer break.
Research has consistently shown that spending time in nature can benefit both physical and emotional well-being. Many schools are unable to provide meaningful outdoor educational experiences, often through no fault of their own. These types of experiences are expensive and require extensive logistics, transportation, staffing, and access to green spaces. Kids n Nature can provide this unique and rewarding experience thanks to the strong relationship between the joint partners.
The cost of the program is absorbed by all partners: District 86 provides transportation and teacher chaperones, Pilcher Park provides a location and a staff naturalist, and Illinois Extension provides staff, volunteers, and education. But while the cost is shared by partners, the program still requires funding for educational supplies and instructional materials. This is where ExxonMobil's support comes in:
“Programs like this are only possible because of the strength of our partnerships,” said Kuhajda. “Illinois Extension’s mission is built on collaboration, and when we can combine our expertise and resources with others, we create educational opportunities that no single partner could provide alone. The continued support of ExxonMobil through the years has meant that we can continue to provide consistent, high-quality outdoor education to young people who may not often go on these types of field trips.”
For more information about Illinois Extension locally, including upcoming events and announcements, visit extension.illinois.edu/gkw.
SOURCE: Nancy Kuhajda, horticulture educator, Illinois Extension.
WRITERS: Anthony Warmack, communications and marketing coordinator, Illinois Extension.
INTERVIEWS: Contact Anthony Warmack, warmacka@illinois.edu, to request specialist interviews on this topic.
MEDIA ACCESS: Images in this release can be downloaded for media use.
About Illinois Master Naturalist: Illinois Extension’s Master Naturalists learn about botany, environmental ethics, archaeology, climate, forestry, geology, prairies, mammals, birds, insects, sustainable agricultural systems, and more from University of Illinois experts. They then share their time and expertise through local environmental stewardship projects such as invasive species removal, restoration projects, wildlife monitoring, and more. The Master Naturalist program is offered through Illinois Extension offices around the state. Learn more about how to become an Illinois Master Naturalist and bring positive change to your community’s natural areas at extension.illinois.edu/MN.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.