Nature in the City Program Overview
CNE’s multi-faceted Nature in the City Program introduces K-5 students to the ecology of their urban neighborhoods through a series of classroom and green-space lessons and the music of Billy B. Brennan. Based in Syracuse, NY, the program provides the opportunity for students to:
- Make or strengthen their connections to the natural world.
- Think critically through hands-on/minds-on activities that link state standards to their surroundings.
- Develop sensible stewardship for their neighborhood green-spaces.
Elements of the program can be adapted to other urban locations.
Bringing Nature in the City to your school
 Students explore Furnace Brook in Elmwood Park. |
The Centers for Nature Education is interested in expanding NITC to more elementary schools within the Syracuse and Auburn City School Districts. The first year of the program includes twenty-four half days of seasonal environmental education lessons, including guided walks through city parks, two back-to-back Nature in the City Shows with Billy B., copies of the Nature in the City Coloring and Activity Book for each student and Bill B’s Nature in the City CD for the school. In addition, teachers participating in the program have access through CNE’s staff to their collection of animal artifacts: including mounts and pelts. If you are interested in bringing NITC to your school please contact our School Program Coordinator at Jen.CNEBW@gmail.com or call (315) 673-1350 for program details, costs, and availability.
 Billy B performing with students from Roberts School. | NITC Teacher Participant Comments: "It has been wonderful to take students to the park, and the materials brought in have given the children first hand knowledge.""The programs have had such a positive impact on my classroom and the learning that takes place there. Students are motivated to learn and take pleasure and pride in the things they learn about." |
Funding Nature in the City
 Students study frog metamorphosis in the classroom. |
Nature in the City wins EPA AwardIn 2004 Nature in the City won the prestigious U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Quality Award for protecting and enhancing environmental quality. |
Through the last four years, Nature in the City has been primarily grant funded. Through the gracious support of the CNY Community Foundation, the Gifford Foundation, the Rothenberg Foundation, the Triad Foundation, the Umeschandra Patil Fund and most recently through a two-year Museums for America Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, CNE has been able to introduce and pilot Nature in the City Lessons and Billy B. shows to students at Roberts and Elmwood Elementary Schools.
It costs $11,200 to bring Nature in the City to one of the Syracuse Elementary Schools for the first year. The cost to sustain the program after the first year is about $7,000/school. If you are interested in sponsoring the Nature in the City Program at a Syracuse or Auburn City School District Elementary School please contact Patty Weisee, the Executive Director of CNE at (315) 673-1350 or cnebw@usadatanet.net.
The History of Nature in the CityIn 2002, CNE launched the Nature in the City (NITC) Program. The program includes a musical song and dance show and a series of lessons. The show was created for CNE by the Natural Song and Dance Man, Billy B. Brennan and was based on a teacher-articulated need to showcase the ecology of urban neighborhoods. It premiered at Syracuse Central School District’s Roberts and Elmwood Elementary Schools, in October, 2003. The NITC lessons were piloted at Roberts School in the 2002/2003 school year. The purpose of this part of the program were to bring nature-based lessons that would meet school curricula into the classroom and nearby Elmwood Park . The program now includes a year-long series of on-site lessons with CNE educators, as well as a Billy B show. In the 2006/2007 school year CNE will continue to bring Nature in the City to Roberts and Elmwood Schools and introduce the program to McKinley Brighton and Huntington Schools. |
 CNE Educator, Matt Kauffman, discusses marsh ecology with 5th grade students. |
 Students journaling along Corcoran High School’s new Science Trail.
|
HOME |  WHAT'S NEW | PROGRAMS | TRAILS | GARDENSPUBLICATIONS | NATURE PHOTOS | | MEMBERSHIP | CONTACT US | LINKS |