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Applied Science For Kids Program

We are now entering our 10th year of the Applied Science for Kids (ASK!) Program with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD). This experiential science program was developed in partnership with CMSD to provide nature-based STEM experiences for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade students and provide teachers with the resources they need to engage students in hands-on science lessons.

Since the ASK! Program's creation, the Nature Center has served classes from every one of CMSD’s elementary schools and hosted over 35,000 CMSD students at our 20-acre outdoor classroom.

"The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes is providing a key component of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's effort to ensure that all of our students have hands-on experiences in science and nature education," said CMSD CEO Eric Gordon. "The Applied Science for Kids (ASK!) program serving all of our preschool, kindergarten and first grade students provides the foundational pieces of the vision of the District's Place-based Learning Collaborative."

 

Our environmental educators created preschool classroom activity kits and provided professional development for all preschool through first grade teachers. "We want to ensure that every child gets the most out of these experiences," said Nature Center at Shaker Lakes Executive Director Kay Carlson. "As their connection to nature grows, so will their understanding of science. This is a landmark educational program that has far reaching benefits for Cleveland," she continued.

For more information or to make a donation to support the ASK! Program, please contact Robert Sikora at sikora@shakerlakes.org or 216-321-5935, ext. 223.