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Ecology Center's 'GO! Outdoors' Program:

Cultivating a Love of the Outdoors

August/September Issue, 2005

This summer, exciting things have been happening for a small group of students from Mitchell Elementary School in Ann Arbor. Decked out in play clothes, smiles, sunscreen, and insect repellent, these kids come out to their schoolyard twice a week to learn about nature, gain valuable gardening skills, and get some exercise in the summer sun. But don’t tell them that – they just think they’re having fun! They are participants in the Mitchell Outdoor Club, an exciting and educational opportunity made possible by the GO! Outdoors program.

GO! Outdoors is a unique collaboration between the Ecology Center and the Ann Arbor Public Schools. Funding for this two-year program, begun in Fall 2003, was provided by a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan.

In a culture where television and video games can dominate ouryouth’s free time, GO! Outdoors endeavors to bring kids back to a healthier and more inquisitive lifestyle. The fundamental goals of the project are to get kids active outside, to encourage families to enjoy the outdoors together, and to instill a lifelong love and appreciation for thenatural environment.

Mitchell Elementary’s Outdoor Club is led by educators from the Ecology Center and Ann Arbor Community Education and Recreation, and participation is free of charge for Mitchell families. The children go on discovery hikes in Scarlett-Mitchell Nature Area and make take-home crafts from materials found in nature. They grow and harvest organic produce for their families in their very own schoolyard garden, and they play energetic games based on environmental topics. Most of all, they are encouraged to appreciate nature and to enjoy time spent outdoors.

The highlights of our programming for the summer have included the Outdoor Club at Mitchell and a series of local field trips for families called “Wild Ann Arbor,” offered through the Ann Arbor Community Rec & Ed Department.

Since its inception, GO! Outdoors has provided a variety of programming, including after-school nature clubs at Mitchell and Lakewood Elementary Schools, a naturalist-led Walking School Bus program, and numerous field trips to local parks and venues. GO! Outdoors has also contributed to the activities of Ann Arbor’s Community Action Network, which provides programs for children at Hikone and Green Baxter Court housing communities.

Now that summer is drawing to a close, the GO! Outdoors program is nearly over. With a few months of the project remaining, we will continue our programs at Mitchell, Lakewood, and the Community Action Network sites through the fall. But it is our hope that, with the valuable skills and outdoor appreciation they have gained, these children and their families will continue to care for the environment, and that they will want to “Go Outdoors” for years to come!

For more information about‘GO! Outdoors,’ contact Ecology Center environmental Educator Laura Kaplan at:
(734) 663-2400 ext. 111.

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