Urban EcologY Level 2 (ages 9 - 12)

2024 Registration is now open!

$260.00 per semester

*Class size limited to 20 students

 Course Overview for Urban ecology level 2:

• Cost: $260 per semester

  • 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 9 to 12 years.

• Time: Mondays from 10:00am - 1:00pm

• Date range:

  • Semester 1: April - June, 2024

  • Semester 2: August - October, 2024

• Location: Two Rivers Park, Donelson

• Content: Expanded depth of learning around the interconnection between people and environment as well as the impact of human activity on urban wildlife

• 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!

Further Details about this program

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.

The level 2 program builds off of content learned in the level 1 program. Students should be reading and writing independently at this point so nature journaling takes center stage along with adopting more advanced environmental science vocabulary terms. Greater time will be spent helping students understand the interconnectedness between human activity and wildlife in the urban setting. Less time will be given to basic gardening in order to shift student’s attention to larger land management and agroforestry projects. We will also continue to build student confidence in medicinal plant identification, recognizing patterns in nature, and generally becoming comfortable with being outdoors in nature.

A typical day at this program includes the following schedule:

• Drop off (near the Two Rivers Dog Park)

• Group Welcome/”plug-in” time

• Sustainability lesson/application activity

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

• Closing/”download” time

• Dismissal

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

• WHY WE ASK PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER:

  • This is a key aspect of the program which serves many functions. In addition to helping us keep the cost of our program low while providing ample adult supervision, this 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 helping students navigate peer relational tasks such as group collaboration, conflict resolution, and self-regulation. Tasks could also be more hands-on, such as helping a group of students determine how to construct a basic shelter with only the supplies found growing in the forest system. Each of these activities offers you an opportunity to expand your own knowledge and skill set while also having fun with your child. Thank you in advance for your participation in this parent-involved model for our program.