Connecting Families with Nature Passport Program
Nature
is all around us in Kent County and getting out to enjoy it as a family
has been made even easier with the new Connecting Families with Nature
Passport Program. Made possible by a grant from the Environmental Protection
Agency, this is a collaborative program between seven Kent County environmental
education organizations - Kent Conservation
District, John Ball Zoo, Ada
Township Parks, Blandford
Nature Center, Calvin
College Ecosystem Preserve, Howard
Christensen Nature Center, and Wittenbach/Wege
Agriscience and Environmental Education Center. The passport program
will help families connect with nature through family-friendly programs
and activities that can be done at these sites or independently.
Passports are available at any of the partner sites listed above. The passport will help each family track their outdoor experiences at these sites and other outdoor areas over the next year. Each completed passport is valid for free admission to attend an exclusive family event at John Ball Zoo on September 25, 2010. Activities that qualify for passport stamps include family programs at the participating sites, going on a family hike and participating in a local stewardship project such as a stream cleanup or invasive species removal project. It takes just 8 stamps to complete a passport.
The program is designed to get families out of the house and away from the TV, computer or video games to experience and enjoy nature! Experts believe and data shows that getting outdoors and enjoying nature as a family can have positive impacts on the health and well-being of children, their parents and the environment. Even so, children today spend up to 6.5 hours each day in front of electronic media. Through this program, the program sites hope families will take some of this time and use it to enjoy and learn about the outdoors.
Many of our programs qualify. Check the event calendar for programs that qualify for a passport stamp.
To learn more about the program and the activities that qualify for passport stamps, visit the program website, www.kentconservation.org/families.
