Awesome Olsen Middle School in Dania Beach, FL visited Anne Kolb Nature Center for a day of environmental education.
Broward County Parks and Recreation's STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) in Parks program uses students' intellectual curiosity about the world they live in. The goal is that students will learn about and take pride in their natural heritage. Teams of dedicated teachers, engaged students, and knowledgeable park naturalists work together to explore the parks as living laboratories where the native fauna and flora of our subtropical ecosystems are preserved.
Broward County Parks and Recreation STEAM program is committed to providing research-based, experiential programming to patrons of all ages to enhance public understanding of the need for long-term, resilient stewardship of our collective natural heritage.
To provide innovative programming to encourage investments in renewable energy, sustainable natural resource management practices, and environmental protection, while cultivating community culture, arts, recreation, and lifelong learning.
The partnership with the Broward County Public School Board enhances the work of our STEAM in Parks program, designed to share in the School Board's mission of educating all students to reach their highest potential.
STEAM in Parks is comprised of visits by schools wherein students participate in field activities associated with natural resource management, such as quantitative environmental characterization, invasive species removal and control, habitat restoration protocols, and use of scientific instruments. Field trips focus on a variety of skill sets, including problem-solving, identifying environmental challenges, observation and quantitative measurement, formulation of hypotheses, and other research-based proficiencies.
Environmental stewardship topics are selected for small student groups to study upon returning to their schools. Students then develop presentations using data collected during field experiences, combined with information from peer-reviewed scientific publications. These presentations are evaluated by park naturalists in partnership with classroom teachers.
Schools in Parks is conducted by individual parks, nature centers, and natural areas. These programs are designed to meet the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for specific grades and subject areas.
There are 46 Schools in Parks programs delivered across five nature centers, 22 natural areas, 16 regional parks, and nine neighborhood parks. School field trips provide hands-on learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction through real-world environmental investigations.
Students gain experience using scientific instruments, collecting environmental data, conducting field sampling of soils, vegetation, and wildlife, and calculating environmental indices. Topics include life cycles, vegetation communities, food webs and energy flow, and ecological relationships such as commensalism, parasitism, and mutualism.
In addition, we offer a weekly one-minute YouTube series highlighting local wildlife for teachers and students called Wildlife Wednesdays. View it here.
For more information about these programs, contact Dr. John Pipoly at ParksEnvEd@Broward.org.
View the Schools in Parks Program Guide for annual program locations, descriptions, and Next Generation Sunshine State Standards.