Increased demand is leading Holden Arboretum to expand its Growing Students in Science program.
Now in its 12th year, the program has 5,000-plus participants from more than 15 regional school districts. Updated curriculum and upgraded facilities are part of the outgrowth.
The arboretum now is enrolling new school districts in the program, which offers in-depth environmental science education to students in second through fifth grade.
Students take part in two annual field trips to the arboretum and one classroom visit conducted by arboretum staff. Curriculum was updated to meet Common Core, Next Generation and grade-level Ohio science standards.
The program is able to meet the needs of more school districts, thanks in part to a partnership with Lubrizol Corp., which donated $25,000 to fund a greenhouse and renovations. The glasshouse, built by Arcadia Glasshouse in Painesville, enables arboretum staff to expand on the curriculum and spend more instructional time with students.
