2004-05: Year Two of an Unprecedented Education Partnership in Portland

Throughout the school year, every Reiche student will visit Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth—not just once, but once a season, fall through spring, for a two-hour outdoor nature exploration program conducted by Audubon educators.

Matched to the lesson plans and learning standards of each child’s grade, K-5, the partnership program also sends Audubon educators into Reiche’s classrooms to coach students on how to get the most out of exploring wildlife habitat at Gilsland and beyond. Through Maine Audubon’s Teacher’s Resource Center, Reiche teachers also will have use of wildlife field guides, natural history books, videos, posters and animal mounts for their classrooms.

Funding for the project comes in part from the Maine Community Foundation’s Aristotle Fund.

Reiche Elementary School is the most culturally, linguistically and economically diverse elementary school in Northern New England. Half of its more than 500 students come from countries other than the United States, and among its student body, 30 languages are spoken. Often Reiche students living in the city do not have access to opportunities to explore nature, even in a state with such a rich outdoor environment.

“ Committed to reaching children who have limited access to nature, Maine Audubon is delighted that Reiche’s teachers and administrators have embraced this opportunity,” said William Hancock, Maine Audubon environmental centers director. “

Even in its first year, we saw this program clearly succeed in engaging students in hands-on learning about science and in helping them develop a greater understanding and appreciation of nature and the environment. Be here on a day the kids are, and you’ll witness that.”

At Gilsland, which features a modern environmental- education center and a 65-acre wildlife sanctuary crossed by trails through different habitats, the children are divided into small groups, each with its own Audubon naturalist guide. Tailored to their ages, a range of outdoor activities helps students identify and explore habitats, examine plant and animal adaptations, and recognize and model cycles in nature.

A sampling of curricula topics includes: the water cycle, plants and their role in the ecosystem, weather, insects and life cycles, pond ecosystems, food webs, catching and identifying plants and animals, geology and the rock cycle, and nutrient cycling in a forest ecosystem. The program also promotes students’ vocabulary acquisition, self esteem, cooperation, critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills.