Outdoor Youth Education: Explore and Restore

Explore and Restore is an environmental education program combining hands-on science with habitat restoration projects. It aims to empower students in science and foster a sense of stewardship for natural habitats.

Program Description

Students are divided into four groups representing a branch of science relevant to the natural area where the restoration work of the project will occur. The program includes:

1. Introduction Day: Students learn about scientific observation and relevant tools in each of their individual groups.
2. Field Day: Students apply their learning in a natural area.
3. Restoration Day: Students undertake projects like planting native seeds, removing invasive species or maintaining trails.
4. Presentation Day: Students create displays to teach the other groups what they’ve learned.

At Jefferson Middle School, sixth-grade science teacher Julie McCullough adapted the program to align with Tennessee Educational Standards and the school’s schedule. This pilot program involved over 20 students.

Robertsville Middle School Expansion

The Explore and Restore program has been expanded for 80 seventh-grade students at Robertsville Middle School, a Title One school. Seventh-grade science teacher Stephanie Sluss has identified four science groups: soil, botany, zoology, and hydrology.