No Ordinary Walk in the Park

When is a walk in the park so much more than that? When the walk involves real-world learning about science and nature.

That’s the idea behind a preschool curriculum used in conjunction with visits to neighboring parks and botanical gardens. Boston’s Arnold Arboretum, with its 265 acres of trees and plants, recently invited local preschoolers to explore the natural treasure of the park.

EDC’s Cindy Hoisington helped develop the curriculum along with training sessions and lesson plans for teachers.

“We wanted to capture the excitement of learning about nature in an ‘up close and personal’ way,” says Hoisington. “It’s a chance to visit and learn in a unique outdoor classroom.”

The children and their teachers will return to the Arboretum in the spring and summer to observe the seasonal changes. EDC plans to expand the local program into a national model.