Nature Ed-Ventures offers additional hands-on experience

by Robin M. Woolson
Grand Island Dispatch, May 14, 2004

Nature Ed-Ventures participants enjoy some time at Camp Allegany as part of a six-day summer camp where they learn about nature and the habitats that can be found outside their window.

Who knows what things can be found in a stream? Or what kinds of habitats animals live in?

A lot of those answers can be found by reading a book, but there are many opportunities in the Western New York region where people can get a hands-on look to see what is there.

Nature Ed-Ventures is an organization comprised of individuals dedicated to life-long learning in, for and about natural and cultural learning.

It was formed by Grand Island resident Judy Thaler and Wayne Robins, two former long-time education employees at the Buffalo Museum of Science.

Thaler served as director of education, while Robins was a senior naturalist. Collectively they bring more than 50 years of experience in inspiring and orienting people to the wonders of the natural world.

"We strive to promote outdoor education by advancing awareness, knowledge and skills through education so that people may develop an appreciation of nature, its surrounding environment and cultural history," said Thaler.

She said Nature Ed-Ventures was formed following the cancellation of the special programs the Buffalo Museum of Science held at off-site locations.

"There was a lot of public outcry when the programs were cut because people seemed to enjoy them," she said. "And because of that, we have gotten a lot of support with financial contributions. People were not happy that a quality program was being lost."

And so, with the programs elimination, Nature Ed-Ventures was begun to continue those activities that seemed to help children better understand the world that is outside their doors.

"This is beneficial to the children, because right now the trend is that they want to play video games," Thaler said. "But they need to know there is nature out there and that it does impact their lives."

Robins views the outdoors as a "classroom for all ages," every day being different.

"It's a place for learning; understanding while enjoying every changing beauty," he said. "I have worked outdoors for all my life and I am able to find things that could make good programs."

Robins said there is a lot of animal and plant life here in the region that people can miss, but with the program, they can see these natural wonders that are specific to this geographic area.

Nature Ed-Ventures uses an interdisciplinary approach to learning that incorporates natural history with art, social studies, math and technology.

With the programs the organization has, it has allowed the presenters to work with a wide variety of audiences, which range from Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, to underserved youth in Western New York, families, home-schoolers, teachers, senior citizens and students in kindergarten to grade 12.

The programs have been modified to meet the needs that the group is trying to focus on or if there is a theme.

Thaler said she likes working with children more than once because then she is able to see how their attitudes and behaviors have changed because they have realized the importance of the natural world that is around them.

"Nature Ed-Ventures is a venue to continue our important work of promoting value and respect of our environment to people of all ages and backgrounds while fostering a life-long appreciation for living things around us," she said.

Robins gave the example that a Boy Scout troop was working on merit badges and that they were looking for ones that could be done in one to two days and that with the help of Nature Ed-Ventures, the requirements could be fulfilled for the scouts to earn the badge.

Thaler said the organization began putting the pieces in place and the first program was held in January.

She said the programs vary due to the audience.

"We don't just work with the kids, we are also working with adults," Thaler said. "We are finding parents have just a little knowledge about nature and that when presentations are going on, everyone is learning something new."

Thaler said Nature Ed-Ventures has also been used to accentuate what children have been learning in school.

"But by taking part in this program, they get a hands-on experience," she said.

One program Nature Ed-Ventures does a lot with is a six-day summer camp.

"The camp combines traditional camping experiences, such as arts and crafts, hiking and campfires, with scientific explorations," Thaler said, adding that some of the early students have returned to be counselors and that some of them have gone on to pursue careers in environmental science.

"There was one who has gone into astrophysics because of the experience at camp," she said.

Thaler said there are even times when kids come back year after year and are able to offer guidance and to answer questions from others.

"That shows that the information they are learning is being retained," she said.

Another program that Nature Ed-Ventures has is a family weekend, where a family comes to camp and spends a night.

"It gives them (the parents) some quality time with the kids," Thaler said. "And when they come down, they are with families who have the same interest."

Nature Ed-Ventures can be reached at 716-773-9190 or by visiting the Web site at natureed-ventures.com.