Centers for Nature Education, Inc.

Purpose: Supporting Lifelong Learning The mission of the Centers for Nature Education (CNE) is to promote environmental awareness, understanding, and responsible natural resource stewardship among all people, especially children. CNE works to encourage urban children to respect and care for their neighborhood materials and resources. The "Nature in the City" show was developed by a local entertainer to showcase the ecology of urban neighborhoods and promote awareness and knowledge that will lead to young People's stewardship of urban green spaces. The show's music and dances and the accompanying hands-on activities are ideal tools to engage young children in learning about the culture and ecology of their neighborhoods. The overall goal of this project is to create a knowledge base and understanding of the urban environment in children in grades K through 6. As these children grow older, this knowledge will enable them to appreciate and care for their environment. This grant will allow CNE to record the "Nature in the City" show and to create a series of lesson plans that reinforce the show's concepts. CNE will disseminate the CD of the show and the lesson plans to elementary schools throughout Syracuse, and to schools in other cities through its Web site and through CD sales.