Environmental Education: 803/329-5527
PRT’s Environmental Education team presents topics such as water quality, orienteering, plant identification, animal identification and recycling to school groups from kindergarten through high school, tailoring the discussions to the age of the participants. These classes are most often presented at River Park, Glencairn Garden, Fewell Park and Huckle Grove, but they can be held at any of our parks, or brought to a classroom at your school. Classes at River Park may also include an opportunity to learn kayaking. Additionally, home-school groups can coordinate classes with our staff to meet their specific needs.
For the younger children, our popular teaching mascots make the experience memorable. Children can learn from Gabby Greenleaves, Chatty Evergreen, and Betsy Ross. Gabby Greenleaves and Chatty Evergreen teach environmental topics such as plant identification, animal habitats and tree biology. Betsy Ross is our teacher of history. Mascots make learning fun --- they also make parties fun! Birthday parties with our mascots can be arranged by contacting our staff.
As part of the Environmental Education program, PRT also offers the Leopold Education Project (LEP) curriculum. This interdisciplinary curriculum uses A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold to help students in grades 5-8 learn about the natural world and their place within it.
PRT is expanding its Environmental Education programming to address the interests of all age groups with the addition of The Learning Center at Glencairn Garden.
Environmental Education Class Topics
A variety of topics can be presented by PRT’s Environmental Education team, facilitated by our mascots or our staff members. A current list of topics is listed below, but you can also check our Environmental Education Brochure, Connecting to the Natural World, for descriptions of each class and information on registering. SC State Standard Alignments for these classes are available. Classes can also be tailored to your needs.
Clean W-A-T-E-R
Gabby Greenleaves
Life In A Fishbowl
Little Watchers
Taxonomy
Tree Walk
Turn Around Clowns
Beak Buffet
Compassing
Historic Rock Hill
Litter In The Wild
Nesting
Water Conservation
Water Overview
Within Reach - Climbing Wall
Catawba River Watershed
Kayaking
Water Quality/Stream Assessment
Wetlands
For more information and to register for a class, call Kiersten Rugg at 803/329-5527.
Field Trip Forms
Directions to Parks
Making the Most of Your PRT Field Trip
Preparing for Your River Park Field Trip
Paddling Release Form
Permission Slip
Leopold Education Project (LEP)
Environmental Educator: Kiersten Rugg, 803/329-5527, krugg@cityofrockhill.com
PRT offers the Leopold Education Project to home school students in the Rock Hill area at River Park This interdisciplinary program meets once a month during the school year and uses A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold to help students in grades 5-8 learn about the natural world and their place within it. By combining the sound educational offerings of the Leopold Education Project (LEP) and the tried-and-true community values of the 4-H program, students are introduced to local culture and learn to appreciate how South Carolinians enjoy the great outdoors. Students also benefit from community volunteers as they see how are they are connected to nature and new ways to become good stewards of the earth.
In conjunction with LEP, this group of students makes up an official 4-H group, sponsored by the Jr. Optimist Club of Rock Hill and Clemson University. Students learn how to conduct meetings, keep record books, and experience community service. Students listen to volunteer speakers like animal trackers, taxidermists and beekeepers. They receive their own personal journals for observations as they learn to read the landscape on their way to developing their own personal land ethic. Each student receives a free LEP t-shirt, courtesy of the Rock Hill Jr. Optimist Club.
Students also have a Leopold Education Project Youth 4-H booth at the York County Fair in Rock Hill, they perform a service project during the holiday season, and they plant a food plot for wildlife in the spring. Students also have an opportunity to learn kayaking and other life-long leisure skills from PRT’s Outdoor Recreation staff.
For more information on the Leopold Education Project and how your student can get involved, call Kiersten Rugg at 803/329-5527.