Urban Ecology Level 3 (ages 13 and up)

Now Enrolling for 2024!

$260.00 per semester

*Class size limited to 20 students

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Course Overview for Urban ecology level 3:

  • Cost: $260

    • GROW is a small, mostly volunteer operated, nonprofit organization that is committed to keeping costs for education as low as possible while upholding our standards for quality programming. Tuition fees help cover basic operating expenses related to the program such as staffing and supplies used by students (including the costs associated with developing the project site.) A portion of all tuition payments also goes back into Metro Parks department to help sustain our public parks lands for future generations. Funding for other aspects of our organization’s work in the community come from sources such as charitable donations, corporate sponsorship, fundraising efforts, and grants.

    • GROW seeks to offer environmental enrichment opportunities to all learners, regardless of household income. Please contact us if you are in need of financial assistance.

  • Age range: Ages 13 and up

  • Time: Thursdays, from 10:00am - 1:00pm

  • Date range:

    • Semester 1: April - June, 2024

    • Semester 2: August - October, 2024

  • Location: Two Rivers Park, Donelson

  • Content: Basic survivalist skills (orienteering, hiking, wilderness first aid, and more!) coupled with broader education around Permaculture system management and leadership skills development

  • Activity level: HIGH!

  • “Drop-off” style program

  • Parent/guardians take turns volunteering as helpers

  • COVID POLICY: The health and safety of our community is our first priority- it's why we started this organization in the first place! We continue to monitor CDC and local guidance related to COVID-19. Currently, we do not require masks for any youth or adults volunteering with us or participating in our programming. As a youth-focused organization, this is consistent with the updated Metro Nashville Public Schools policy ending its universal mask requirements on March 11, 2022. Furthermore, all of our programs are held outdoors, where research has shown the risk of COVID-19 transmission is minimal. That said, out of respect for your fellow community members, we ask that if either you or your child are sick, please stay home until you are feeling better. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

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Further details about this course

We recognize that students in this age range are ready for greater independence, higher level educational content, and a hands-on role in the ongoing development and management of our GROW project site. Students in this age range crave greater social interaction with peers, opportunities to share their own knowledge with others, increased autonomy, and meaningful ways to contribute to the larger community. Our goal is to meet these needs while also helping our students foster valuable leadership skills.

This program has been designed to have a high degree of physical activity, experiential learning, and community development impact. Each month students will add a new item to their survivalist tool kit (compass, 1st aid kit, etc.) based on learning objectives completed in the course. Each semester also contains a group collaborative project related to sustainability. Students should be able to articulate the principles behind permaculture, GROW’s mission, and various aspects of the project site by the time they age out of this grouping. At the end of the season, students who’ve completed this course will be certified as our inaugural class of Jr. Docents for the GROW project site and invited to represent our organization at various volunteer opportunities, public events, and more. This is an exciting step for the GROW team, as we move closer to our goal of not only inspiring urban students in the field of ecology but also connecting them to potential careers in the future.

A typical day at this program includes the following schedule:

  • Drop off (near the Two Rivers Dog Park)

  • Group Welcome/”plug-in” time

  • Survivalist lesson/application activity

  • Snack (*peanut-free please, we have students with life-threatening allergies!)

  • Sustainability lesson/application activity

  • Closing/”download” time

  • Dismissal

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PARENTS OF THIS AGE GROUP ARE ASKED TO VOLUNTEER AS A PROGRAM HELPER

  • WHY WE ASK PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER:

    • In addition to helping us keep the cost of our program low while providing ample adult supervision, this volunteer participation more importantly provides the means for us build a sense of community. By volunteering regularly, you'll be able to connect with other families in the program on a deeper level and, in turn, become more connected to the larger GROW community. Also, it’s important to note that students in this age group benefit from having parents involved in their activities. Joining them at GROW once a month can be something you look forward to with your student as a way to connect during this time of intense transition from childhood to adolescence.

    • Parent volunteers assist in various ways depending on the program. At this age range, tasks for parent helpers might include add what it includes here