| Welcome to Connecting Families with Nature |
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| Nature is all around us in Kent County and getting out to enjoy it as a family has been made even easier then with the new Connecting Families with Nature Passport Program. Made possible by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, this is a collaborative program between seven Kent County environmental education providers – Ada Township Parks, Blandford Nature Center, Calvin College Ecosystem Preserve, Howard Christensen Nature Center, John Ball Zoo, the Kent Conservation District and Wittenbach/Wege Agri-Science and Environmental Education Center. The passport program will help families connect with nature through affordable, family-friendly programs and activities that can be done at these sites or on their own. |
News |
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Remember to complete your passport by September 25,2010 for a free ticket to our Closing Celebration at John Ball Zoo! Thanks to all of the families that have committed to connecting with nature so far. Our September 25, 2010 Celebration will include a behind-the-scenes special program for Passport participants along with door prizes, music, crafts and animals!! You may obtain your free ticket by bringing a completed passport to any partner organization prior to Sept. 25, or bring your passport with you to John Ball Zoo. The program begins at 9 a.m. - don't miss it! If you have any questions or would like to give us feedback on this program, we would love to hear from you. Please call 942.4111 x 100 or email us.
There is still time to fill your passport with stamps and enjoy our beautiful West Michigan outdoors!
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Ada Township Parks and Recreation
Website: www.adatownshipmi.com
Blandford Nature Center
Website: www.blandfordnaturecenter.org/events
Calvin College Ecosystem Preserve
Website: www.calvin.edu/academic/eco-preserve/programs/saturdays.html
Howard Christensen Nature Center
Website: www.kentconservation.org/hcnc
John Ball Zoological Park
Website: www.johnballzoosociety.org
Wittenbach/Wege Agri-Science
and Environmental Education Center -
Website: www.lowellschools.com
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We need your help…
To complete their passports we have asked families to participate in a Stewardship or Pollution Prevention project and three “Wildcard Activities”.
Stewardship or Pollution Prevention Project:
Under the Stewardship Section of this webpage we have provided some ideas already. But we need your help with more ideas. Get creative and let us know how you and your family plan on helping out. Each month we will post your ideas on this website.
Wildcard Activities:
Each family is asked to complete three wildcard activities to complete their passport. Your family can simple attend additional partner programs, compete additional stewardship activities or take more family hikes for their “wild card” activities. But you can also get creative. We want families to use these activities to experience nature together in their own way. Do you have a great way for your family to connect with nature that we haven’t thought of? Share it with us so we can share it with the hundreds of other families participating in this program.
*Please send your ideas for the Stewardship or Pollution Prevention Project by email to administrator@kentconservation.org or call (616)942-4111 ext 100.
Updated 07/09/2010 |
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Program Information |
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This is your family’s ticket to outdoor adventures right here in Kent County. Getting started is easy - just follow the three steps below:
1. Pick up your family’s passport to outdoor adventures:
One passport will be distributed per child. Passports will be available at the partnering facilities during each qualifying family event. For program partner contact information select the partners label under the program section of this website.
2. Start stamping up your passport! To complete the passport, you need to earn 8 stamps. Passport stamps can be earned by:
a. Attending an environmental education program or special event. (3 stamps)
Each of the partnering facilities hosts fun and educational family programs about our environment. Families must attend a program at 3 different partnering facilities. Your family will receive 1 stamp for each program/special event attended.
b. Participating in a stewardship or pollution prevention project. (1 stamp)
Activities could be removing invasive plants or attending a river cleanup at a partner or non-partner facility. Starting a new family project like recycling or composting would also work. Contact any of the partnering facilities for ideas to get you started.
c. Participating in a wild card activity. (3 stamps)
Wild card activities include attending additional programs at a partner or non-partner facility, participating in additional stewardship or pollution prevention activities or starting more home-based environmental projects.
d. Get outside! Take a family hike, bike, snowshoe or cross-country ski. (4 different activities earn 1 stamp)
Lace up your walking shoes or strap on your snowshoes and get out and explore the miles of trails right here in Kent County. Taking 4 different family outings will earn your family 1 stamp.
3. Hold on to your passport. A completed passport can be redeemed after August 1, 2010 at any of the partnering facilities for one children’s admission into John Ball Zoo on September 25, 2010 for the wrap-up party.
Updated 09/21/2009 |
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