Connect Children
& Nature

Outdoor and nature experiences are important for child development and wellbeing

According to the Child Mind Institute, spending time in nature builds confidence, promotes creativity, encourages physical activity, teaches responsibility, reduces anxiety and improves mental health.

Our state parks are great places for children to spend time outside

The Summit Environmental Education Center at Haw River State Park offers school classes a variety of courses and innovative activities correlated to the current NC curriculum standards, including environmental education topics, NC cultural studies, outdoor education and teambuilding. These wide-ranging courses are designed to enhance and supplement classroom curriculum, as well as foster a respect for nature.  School classes can visit for a day or stay up to three days, with programming, meals and overnight accommodations provided by the park. 

At Haw River State Park, nature has provided a fine outdoor facility, which includes the Haw River headwaters, lush vegetation, wetlands, rolling hills, pine and hardwood forest, wildflowers and abundant animal life. Overnight cabins, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces and a dining hall enable the Summit Environmental Education Program to immerse students in an engaging, informative, entertaining and inspiring curriculum.

The Connect Children and Nature project offers field trip funding for classes of students who attend Title 1 schools

A class field trip to Haw River State Park is a unique and memorable experience that should be available to as many children as possible. However, many schools cannot afford to offer their students this inspiring and educational opportunity. The NC State Park Partners Foundation supplying funding support to the NC Division of Parks and Recreation as it provides educational opportunities or students attending schools designated as Title 1, a federal designation based on the proportion of students in a school who are economically disadvantaged. This three year pilot program is focused on Grade Levels 2 through 8 in Guilford and Rockingham counties, with a longer term goal of expanding the program to other county school systems and other state park environmental learning center locations. A variety of environmental education courses at different grade levels are offered from which educators may select courses that meet the desired learning objectives.

You Can Help

A day field trip for a grade level of 75-80 students, plus chaperones, costs approximately $2,500. You can help by covering the cost of a few children or a whole class. All donations designated for the Connect Children and Nature project will be used to fund on-site environmental education experiences for as many classes as possible each year.