Nature Education Kickoff 2018
Years of Service Recognition Heidi Brown 10 years Lois Peterson 10 years Tom Taber 10 years Gary Keeth 15 years Betty Murray 15 years Bob Walker 15 years Jackie James 25 years Carol Matthews 25 years
Program Evolution The Nature Education Program is evolving so we can: o Serve more students o Welcome new volunteers o Invite new visitors to discover the Nature Preserve o Help all visitors form a deeper connection to nature and Filoli We have started this evolution by building on the strengths of the program created by volunteers.
2017 Accomplishments 140 visitors on new Sunset Hikes 375 visitors on Saturday Nature Hikes 208 visitors on Specialty Hikes (Newts, Property Through Time, Bird, Mushrooms) 270 children on private youth hikes (Scouts, Middle School program) 291 students on Native Plants, Native Ways 2927 students on School Hikes Opened Estate Trail and Nature Center to all visitors 1742 visitors to Nature Center in only 3 months
Volunteer Assignment Descriptions What you’ll see on VicNet: o Nature Center & Estate Trail Host o Property Through Time (other Specialty Hikes will be added) o Public & Private Hikes o School Hikes You’ll be able to sign -up for Specialty Hike and School Hike Assignments on VicNet once you complete those trainings. Please read each description in today’s packet.
Nature Center & Estate Trail Host 1 shift per month until Fall, 8,000-10,000 visitors expected! Radio Education staff after radio check so they know you arrived Unlock/Lock Nature Center Interpret Nature Center and area around Red’s Barn Interpret Estate Trail when another volunteer are in Nature Center Proactively engage with hikers
Public & Private Hikes Also called “Nature Hikes” Create an engaging, dynamic hike experience using the information given in the NE training program Lead interpretive hikes for groups of adults, families, scouts, and Filoli partners Limit hikes to 90-minutes Public Hikes: Saturdays from Feb. 24 - Nov. 3 at 11:00
Specialty Hikes Training includes online training and training hike Coordinated with seasonal planning and promotion 90-minutes Property Through Time Hike o Sundays at 2:00 pm o February 25 – May 20, 2018 Beginners Bird Walk o Autumn Season 2018, Sundays, Sept. – early Nov. Mushroom Hike o Winter Season 2019, Saturdays, January & February
School Hikes School Hike Docent requirements: o 18 shifts during the academic year (approx. 2 shifts per month) o Attend retraining hikes and lectures and complete online training modules o Limit hikes to 2 hours o Follow policies for interacting with plants, animals, staying on trails o Follow designated route o Use School Hike theme and reference Field Guide Booklet throughout hike
School Hike Survey 18 Docents completed survey Variety of answers shows boundless source of material on Preserve Lack of consistency in survey proves need to narrow material covered
School Hike Survey Plant Adaptations: Natural Resources Used by the Ohlone: No plant adaptation mentioned by more than six people 9 of 18 mentioned the acorn Animal Adaptations: 6 of 18 mentioned deer Newts mentioned by most, but Ecology & Interdependence: many different adaptations given: Relevant and important material Poisonous is covered by individual Docents, but no consistency Lifecycle stages Hibernation
School Hike Survey Props: Route: Photos of animals that aren’t Most mentions: Pipeline, Spring often seen and those who live Creek, Scarp, Meadow Road underground Scat and track guides Dogbane Acorns and seeds
School Hike Goals 1 ) Dynamic hike experience with Move away from curriculum and activities, opportunity for discovery, Filoli traditions that have limited and time for reflection. innovation or are not mission aligned. 2) Prioritize needs of students and teachers over staff and volunteer Pre and post hike materials for preferences. teachers to use in classroom. 3) Every group within a class covers Docents use curriculum outline the same main points. and designated route. 4) Material aligns with Next Field Guide Notebook referenced Generation Science Standards. throughout Hike.
Field Guide Notebook 12 pages Used on Hike Vocabulary Trail map includes natural communities Questions Drawing Activities Photos of plants as if collected and pressed Illustrations of animals as if drawn in the field
School Hike Goals 5) Offer programing unlike other Ohlone use of natural resources. regional programs. Incorporate the Working Estate for 100 years. Estate’s unique natural history and Current use for scientific history of land stewardship. research, education, and public enjoyment. Opportunity to walk through formal garden and five natural communities.
School Hike Goals 6) Offer different Filoli experiences Launching in 2018/19 Academic Year: throughout a student’s elementary Garden Nature Exploration: 1st, 2nd school education. School Hikes: 3rd, 4th, 5th House & Garden: 1st-5th Plein-Air Art: 3rd and up
School Hike Goals 7) More opportunities for an under- Development staff, Filoli Board served community to experience committed to securing grants for nature, the environment, and Filoli. fee waivers and bus reimbursements. Eventual goal is that 30% of classes are underserved communities and qualify for fee waiver and free bus. Promote to underserved schools that have not visited Filoli.
School Hike Goals 8) A more accessible, inviting, Recruit beyond Filoli community volunteer training program. and Peninsula’s Nature Education community. Shorter, more flexible training programs. Mix of online modules with testing, lectures, training hikes. Less focus on plant/animal ID.
School Hike Goals 9) Provide a higher level of service Online scheduling for teachers. for teachers and volunteers. Nature Education Coordinator on every School Hike day – consistency for docents and teachers. Improve communication with volunteer committee and individual volunteers.
School Hike Timeline February - March Develop program curriculum April Test tours, teacher feedback May - June Finalize Field Guide Notebooks and supplemental classroom materials July - August Retrain current Docents on new curriculum, Training for new Docents TBD Begin promoting to teachers and open online scheduling
School Hike Timeline September 12 - December 7 40 hike days 60-70 classes 1,500 – 2,000 students 240 – 280 Docent shifts December-January Minor changes made to materials based on teacher and volunteer feedback Mid January - Early June, 2019 School Hikes continue
Talk & Tasting Ian Garrone Owner, Far West Fungi
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