Mohonk Preserve

Purpose: Supporting Lifelong Learning The Mohonk Preserve is committed to protecting the Shawangunk Ridge for the benefit of visitors of all ages and abilities. Its goals are to reach out and serve more diverse and underserved populations, including children with disabilities, who are underrepresented among the preserve's 150,000 annual visitors. This three-year grant will support the preserve's NatureAccess special education program, designed to serve K through 6 special education students in the region. NatureAccess will provide hands-on experiences with wildlife to stimulate individual growth and learning. Through the field study component, the preserve currently provides overland wheelchairs, modifies trail routes, and adapts the curriculum so mainstreamed students can fully participate. NatureAccess/Field Studies will serve 270 K through 6 students over the grant term. The program will also expand to include a new in-school outreach component (NatureAccess/Outreach) to deliver a program on wetlands ecology and wildlife to 1,236 third through fifth grade special education students in both self-contained and inclusion classrooms. Unlike traditional outreach modules, in which each student might receive less than one contact hour from a professional educator, this project will allow each student to receive between 11 and 13 contact hours from classroom and preserve educators.