"Our hands-on curriculum focuses on STEAM principles," says Erin Marquis, a teacher at Wintergreen Arts Center in Presque Isle, Maine, and creator of the new outdoor learning program SAPLINGS.
"Our goal is to provide experiences for children to thrive in the beauty of nature while nurturing curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning."
The outdoors-inspired program for toddlers and preschoolers is scheduled to start Sept.
2, the Portland Press Herald reports.
Marquis says she came up with the idea for SAPLINGS after a visit to a nature center and was struck by how much kids and their parents enjoyed the outdoors.
"I just thought it would be a great idea for kids and their parents to come out and experience the outdoors together," she says.
"Our goal is to provide experiences for children to thrive in the beauty of nature while nurturing curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning," she adds.
The program will focus on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (S STEAM) principles, and participants will be separated into groups based on age.
Topics include engineering, math, art, and more.
"When Erin approached us with the concept for SAPLINGS, we were immediately on board," says Wintergreen's executive director
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A Gilesgate-based shop and community facility, Hexham’s Core Music, launches a separate workshop where up to six people will be trained how to repair guitars and make ukuleles. The European Social Fund grant supported the project and has secured funds through the County Durham Communication Foundation to equip the workshop in Burn Lane.