Students journal and experience nature up close up as they learn to be stewards of the land at the Asylum Lake Preserve
The day starts with Buster Bronco welcoming third graders to the 274-acre Asylum Lake Preserve. The 150 students from four schools – Mattawan Early Elementary, Montessori School in Kalamazoo, El Sol Elementary and Woodward Magnet of Kalamazoo Public Schools – are about to spend the day on the land. The day grew from the Kalamazoo No Child Left Inside Initiative developed by the Kalamazoo Nature Center and is rooted in the understanding that children who have positive experiences outside are more likely to become conservation stewards. Its goal is to get students outdoors to explore, observe, appreciate and connect with the natural environment and each other.
The program has been ongoing for four years now. It started with a pilot program in 2010 for 68 students and has welcomed nearly 150 students for the day in each of the subsequent years.
The way it works is children participate in activities at stations set up throughout the Preserve. Western Michigan University students, serving as nature guides, lead the students from station to station where they take samples from Asylum Lake, study water ecology, and learn about invasive species by pulling out garlic mustard plants.
The youngsters also practice journaling and build leadership skills throughout the day.
The elementary students have the opportunity to build relationships with youngsters from other schools as they are encouraged to team up with them for their activities.
About 20 volunteers help make the day possible
The program encourages youngsters to be curious about nature.
The event is organized by the University's landscape services department and president's office. It was created by an employee from each of those units to complement the program developed by the Nature Center and local public schools in partnership with WMU.